04.17.08
On Ron Hovsepian’s Latest GNU/Linux FUD
Is Novell advocating Free software at all?
“You’ve been waiting months for the release of Windows Vista, and now it’s here. But are you ready to make the move? New management solutions from Novell® can help. We’ve created this migration and management resource center to help you plan, manage and execute a successful migration including: analyst reports, best practices, web seminars and white papers. We’ll be adding new items regularly, so check back often.”
Novell: Windows Vista Migration Resources
A day ago we mentioned the tactless remarks from Ron Hovsepian, whose damage can affect not only Novell, but Novell’s (and Microsoft’s) rivals as well. What on earth was he thinking? Others ask themselves the same question.
Novell CEO Disses Embrace of Desktop Linux
[…]
While acceptance and conversion to Desktop Linux may occur more slowly in the U.S. than in other parts of the world, I think it sends a negative message for the CEO of a company that produces a product to make such a statement about that product. You don’t hear the president of the Dairy Association saying that he predicts that people are going to drink less milk. Instead, you see commercials supporting milk’s advantages and positive aspects. Have you ever seen a Linux commercial?
Fortunately, Novell’s CEO is not the only one to have foolishly criticised his own products out in public. Only yesterday:
As PC users clamor for Microsoft to continue to support Windows XP, company CEO Steve Ballmer called the Vista OS “a work in progress” at an annual Seattle event on Thursday.
Holy Crap: Did Bill Gates Just Say Windows Sucks?
[…]
We asked a simple question: what Microsoft product could have used a little more polish before release? The answer astounded us. We would just like to thank Bill Gates for his honesty and his openness.
Microsoft and Novell appear to be sharing the same problem which is pessimism. It might, after all, be justified, but Novell mustn’t drag GNU/Linux as a whole into this. █
Better to keep quiet
when there is nothing
of substance to say
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.
tw said,
April 18, 2008 at 9:33 am
Your link on migrating to Vista is a ZENworks link. Are you really surprised that a desktop management suite would manage desktop operating system upgrades?
Do you really expect ZENworks to not support Windows desktops which were, until recently, the only desktops ZENworks did support?
Roy Schestowitz said,
April 18, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Yes, I realise this, but there are other examples that are better. Among the recent ones: http://boycottnovell.com/2008/02/23/novell-loves-vista/