CIO weekly wrap-up: Web browser wars in Europe, iPad's new ad and more

I’m back from a couple of days off in Los Angeles – my first trip to southern California, and a well-timed one as I got to witness some of the pre-Oscar hoopla for myself. Now, it’s back to the office to catch up on e-mails, blogs, Tweets and the latest tech news.

Last week, during the commercial breaks for “Lost,” some friends and I compared pros and cons of our Web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla’s Firefox and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. (I’m a Google Chrome convert, in case you’re wondering, though I’ve been told I should give Opera a try.) So I read, with interest, this New York Times article on Web browser wars, ie, how Microsoft might be shooting itself in the foot by providing a “choice screen” in Windows-equipped computers in Europe that displays links to dozens of Web browsers, including its top competitors.

And did you catch the first iPad ad during the Oscars last night? If you missed it (as I did), you can watch the iPad ad here. It’s funny how little actual typing is demonstrated in the ad, as I think one of the most appealing aspects of the iPad is the larger keyboard, which will presumably allow for more accurate typing than the iPhone screen does. Then again, I’m probably thinking like an enterprise user, not a consumer who can’t wait to flip through photos and watch movies on the larger screen.

While you’re at it, here are the latest stories and guides from SearchCIO.com:

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Running IT in 2010: Better response times on a budget — Running an IT department in 2010 requires new processes that boost responsiveness, and vendor management and outsourcing practices that cut costs and keep IT budgets in check. Find out more in our new guide.