Best of the blogs: On idea of a ‘standard SOA stack’, David Linthicum cuts right to the chase. “This kind of stuff drives me nuts,” he writes in this Real World SOA post. “The notion that we can create one approach and one set of enabling technologies is just silly, and those that promote the single stack approach should rethink the core concept of SOA.” The problem, of course, is that vendors are pushing SOA technology, their own SOA technology. Special report: It’s day two of our top 25 senior IT executives and that means we’re unveiling the second round of winners. In this batch you’ll find, among four others, Carl Snyder, director of global IT infrastructure and operations for Tellabs. Mr. Snyder is leading the effort to educate his company on ITIL, a critical goal that he says, “cuts across every individual and team in IT.” Read Snyder’s profile, or view the slideshow InfoWorld CTO 25 2007 awards with all those we’ve revealed thus far. Platforms: Readers debate open source vs. Windows in the latest Gripe Line post. At issue is just how viable an alternative Linux really is in corporate IT shops. “The answers [readers] reach seem to split pretty evenly on both sides and at every point in between,” Ed Foster reports. “And Microsoft’s FUD campaign against Linux over software patents should only serve to remind customers of the long-term risk in depending on proprietary software.” The news beat: Microsoft is busy this week with its annual Tech Ed developer conference, where it updates Live Meeting, christens forthcoming iterations of Visual Studio and SQL Server, and discusses managed services — Ongoing coverage: Microsoft Tech Ed 2007. Apple says that its newest MacBook Pro gets Intel’s Santa Rosa chips, and a mercury-free LED-backlit display. And Asustek joins forces with Intel to build a $199 laptop aimed toward emerging markets. Technology Industry