02.20.07
Microsoft: Open Source isn’t Free
Novell: But, it is much cheaper
Recently, Steve Ballmer confirmed the real meaning of the Microvell deal, and in doing so he reiterated Microsoft’s mantra that " open source isn’t free" - a new slogan for the anti-Linux and Free Software FUD campaign that our friends at Novell are helping them to perpetrate, again.
So, these days, it’s more interesting when Novell makes a public statement or assertion that seems to contradict their benefactors. Novell is claiming that they are realizing millions of dollars in savings from their own internal transition from proprietary software such as Microsoft Windows to Open Source solutions.
The change to open source, Anderson said, was part politics but also had a real return on investment for Novell. "We see real benefit to our bottom line. We’ve had $900,000 in expense reductions per year versus our prior desktop operating system and office applications. The number is very conservative and it’s just the desktop side of things."
Anderson explained that when the transition started in 2004, Novell was running mostly Windows and now has moved to Open Office for its desktop productivity suite. Although the mandate was to switch over inside of three months, in practice, the IT group migrated their own desktops inside of one week.
"We terminated our agreements with Microsoft and that was a substantial part of the savings." By 2005, some 54 percent of Novell’s desktop users were running Linux, she added. "We had to understand how to enable existing business applications to run on the Linux desktop," Anderson said. "We’ve got that nailed now so that’s no longer an impediment."
And, don’t forget, they’re saving even more by outsourcing their direct sales.
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.