* Management vendors choose to buy rather than build, leading to consolidation
* Making rash decisions to combat chaos can lead to problems further on
* Novell speaks Linux
* Recurring patterns in IT trends
* Patch management capabilities could come from hardware vendors
* Security report from the RSA Conference
* Recent management trends have potential to tear down barriers between disciplines
* HP and IBM blend management software with other offerings
* Quick survey of readers on prospects in 2004
* Call for reader input on IT management plans in the coming year
