04.16.08
Novell: Putting the Defeatism in GNU/Linux Since 2006
Novell inherits a Microsoft classic (”Linux not for the desktop” FUD)
Having surrendered to requests (or demands) from Steve Ballmer and having become his ‘patent buddy’, Ron Hovsepian reveals just how apathetic he is when it comes to desktop Linux. Have a look at this new article from InfoWorld
Novell’s Suse Linux at the desktop is unlikely to be popular with consumers in the next three to five years, according to Novell President and CEO Ronald Hovsepian.
With ‘optimistic’ and ‘enthusiastic’ CEOs like these, no wonder Novell’s business is doing so poorly. However, Novell’s remark are also damaging to the business of other Linux vendors. On whose behalf does Novell speak here? It starts to become truly embarrassing. █
“Novell pays us some money for the right to tell customers that anybody who uses SuSE Linux is appropriately covered.”
–Steve Ballmer
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.
Logan said,
April 16, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Novell’s products aren’t popular with anyone besides Microsoft and Microsoft lackeys. Good riddance. Traitors and hypocrites. Forget about them. Every time you write about them you are given them free advertising. You’re helping them.
Roy Schestowitz said,
April 16, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I was told this regarding posts that happen to mention Microsoft technologies, but not about Novell. When I read the article at hand the initial reaction was: “Another reason for Hovsepian to be sacked?”
When a CEO makes remarks like these, he’s giving ammunition to his rival. How tactless can he be? I mean, can you imagine Steve Ballmer saying that Vista is not ready yet (or ever, being simply the truth based on leaked E-mails from the latest class action)?
Logan said,
April 16, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Microsoft, Novell, is the same thing. People see controversy upside down. You end up promoting them. It’s a waste of time. Microsoft tried to the same against Linux and it backfired. You want to defeat them? Support their opponents. Promote Red Hat and Fedora, Canonical and Ubuntu, Mandriva, Debian, Slackware…
You’re giving them what they want. Their own name/brand always on air. This costs a lot money and you are giving them that for free.
Smart up!
Roy Schestowitz said,
April 16, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I do that all the time. But not in this Web site, whose focus and purpose is totally separate from advocacy that uses positives (with the exception of news digests that we started including 2 months ago).
Your point is a very valid and legitimate, but it’s a coin with two sides. Hopefully it falls on the right side each time we toss it. If not, please alert us.
If you think a post serves as an ‘advertisement’ for Novell/Microsoft, warn us.