12.12.06
New Microvell Survey
Here is a Press Release announcing the results a new survey regarding the Microvell deal, I wonder how it feels in Waltham to be on the good side of a Microsoft FUD Survey for once?
I haven’t the time nor inclination to delve deeply into the study itself, I will just make you aware of it. If anyone wants to post an analysis, please email me ( shane < at > edu-nix.org ); it looks like a very simple and limited survey of PHB’s by a company that has performed such surveys on Microsoft’s behalf before.
The Respondents
Information Technology Decision Makers - An IT executive, manager or staff whose primary job is either in a formalized IT, information systems or MIS department, or one who performs IT functions in a non-IT, ISM, or MIS department, with significant decision-making authority related to technology purchases. Their organizations have to have at least 500 PCs.
The Surveyors (is that the proper term?)
Founded in 1975, Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates (PSB) has been a WPP (LSE: WPP; Nasdaq: WPPGY) company since 2001. PSB is a strategic communications firm that specializes in research-based recommendations for its clients. PSB has conducted research studies for Microsoft over the past 8 years. PSB has offices in Seattle, New York, Washington, Denver, Los Angeles and London.
The "Findings"
- Ninety-five percent approve of the collaboration between Novell and Microsoft. Microsoft, Novell and customers all benefit from collaboration. More than 90 percent of respondents approve of the Microsoft and Novell collaboration, believing it will benefit IT customers and increase interoperability of IT systems.
- Eighty-seven percent said that customers benefit if leading Linux distributors and Microsoft worked more closely with one another. Four out of five believe their organization would consider doing more business with Linux dealers if Linux providers establish an alliance with Microsoft.
- Sixty-seven percent said they’re more likely to consider deploying SUSE Linux from Novell. The Microsoft-Novell collaboration increased customer consideration of SUSE Linux. More than two-thirds of all respondents, and 79 percent of respondents who currently use Red Hat, said the agreement was more likely to make them choose SUSE Linux for their data center.
- Ninety-seven percent said they wanted platform providers to improve interoperability of their systems. Interoperability is the area where respondents want the most focus. Customers want their platform providers to work together to improve the interoperability of their systems and provide tools that make it easier for the end user to navigate both Linux and Windows environments.
- Eighty-nine percent want technology companies to take responsibility for the intellectual property in the products they ship. Also, more than seven in 10 are more likely to deploy Linux with intellectual property rights, which would limit their corporation’s exposure to
risk. These customers see it as the responsibility of their vendors to work out intellectual property issues before deploying services.
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.