10.01.07
The ‘Urinate in the Pool’ Novell/Linux Analogy
“Moments ago we used the blood-selling analogy.”Frustrations over the Movell/Nicrosoft [sic] deal have shown no signs of abatement and those who need to collaborate with Novell are no exception. Some of them, whom I know personally, are simply keeping quiet. Some of them I do not know personally, but they hate the deal, yet they choose to say little or nothing about it in public.
It didn’t take long for Matt Asay to come with another kick-ass comment about Novell’s deeds. Shortly after he had posted his last critique he also read PJ’s views and had this to say:
Novell doesn’t need to urinate in the pool from which it hopes to build its future, but that is precisely what it is doing. It can and should do better.
I used to be talking about spitting in the well, but Matt thinks of urination as a better analogy (and one that can easily be embraced). Moments ago we used the blood-selling analogy.
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.