07.09.08
Posted in Microsoft, GNU/Linux, Novell, GNOME, Patents, Open XML, HP, xandros, Corel, Linspire at 4:47 am by Roy Schestowitz
Corel has been a very bizarre company ever since its deal with Microsoft. Ambivalent, confused, aimless and reliant on other companies. That’s Corel.
It’s almost like Novell, only several years further down the line. The GNU/Linux identity of Corel is absolutely lost by now. As for Novell, that loss of identity is still ‘work in progress’.
Corel produces software only for Windows. It’s still proprietary, just as Microsoft et al prefer for it to be (Fernando Cassia calls it a mistake). Corel was among the first parties to declare support for OOXML. It was a big deal at the time. Here is the latest from yesterday’s news:
Once ousted from the desktop by Microsoft, Wordperfect is back and better
One of the first widely-used office suites on PCs was Wordperfect. Then Microsoft muscled into the game and quickly its Office suite became the de-facto standard, edging out competitors.
[…]
WPO X4 includes a range of PDF capabilities including the ability to import, edit and export PDF documents - including scanned PDFs.
WPO X4 is distributed in South Africa by Workgroup. Corel product manager at Workgroup, Kevin George, says that as well as offering good PDF support, WPO X4 is also compatible with Microsoft Office 2007 files as well as Open Document Format (ODF), used by OpenOffice.org.
More interesting perhaps is Corel’s ‘bastard child’ called Xandros. Apart from signing a software patent deal with Microsoft, it has been up to other deals and ITJungle summarises.
The commercial Linux distribution business just got a little bit less diverse but perhaps a little stronger while IT Jungle was off on holiday last week when New York-based Xandros acquired fellow Linux distro Linspire for an undisclosed sum.
[…]
Xandros, you will remember, is the company that was founded in the wake of graphics and office automation software maker Corel’s attempt to become a Linux distributor a decade ago, which it spun out in 2001 as a separate entity. Xandros has attempted to create a Debian Linux that plays nicely with Windows and has some of the same look and feel of Windows, to which the company created its own Xandros File Manager to make something that works like the File Manager in Windows. Most recently, Xandros has become famous as the supplier of the Linux embedded in the popular ASUS Eee PC, a tiny little flash-based laptop PC. (I got my wife one of these for Mother’s Day, and she adores it because she can lug it around everywhere since it is no larger than a hardcover book. Which she also lugs around, now that I think about it.) Just as Xandros was cooking up the second edition of its Xandros Server variant last summer, it acquired Scalix, the HP-UX OpenMail groupware program that was spun out of Hewlett-Packard, ported to Linux, and open sourced.
This brings us back to H-P again, and particularly its attitude towards patents. We’ve covered this before. H-P fights for its patents and, not surprisingly, it’s apathetic towards GNU/Linux. If it’s ever offered as a choice, then it’s taxed by Microsoft [1, 2].
Scalix too plays the software patents game with Microsoft (it has roots in Microsoft’s friend, Hewlett-Packard). It joined Xandros shortly after Microsoft and Xandros had signed that horrible deal. And lastly, speaking of H-P, recall what we wrote about GNOME the other day (further comments here) and remember that H-P and Xandros support Microsoft OOXML. To repeat this yet again, the concern here is that Microsoft tries to lock down the core of Free software inside Software Patent Prison, rendering it non-Free. To extent, this has already happened. █
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07.08.08
Posted in GNU/Linux, Patents, GPL, xandros, Linspire at 4:06 am by Roy Schestowitz
No more than there will be a GNU/Linux under the Microsoft-reformed Corel
Let’s set the record straight. Linspire is over. The way it was finished is an embellishment. They call it an acquisition [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7], but with a sale of all assets, it’s more like a liquidation. Wishful thinkers realise that Freespire won’t be buried overnight. Well, the same goes for Windows XP, right? But does that mean that Windows XP will make a comeback? It’s a rhetorical question.
If you look at what Robertson had to say. you soon understand that he no longer has interest in Linspire. He has no high hopes for it (well, the GPLv3’s punishment for Linspire makes this deserved and inevitable).
There are those who disagree and there will probably be a vocal confrontation or legal battle, but this does not change the fate of a distribution that aligned with Microsoft’s interests and then used its position to threaten Free software.
As often is the case, VAR Guy just doesn’t get it. He is one of those who write about GNU/Linux but don’t really use it.
Goodbye, Linspire (at least as a standalone company). And thank you to Xandros for funding a market consolidation that’s badly needed. The VAR Guy applauds customer choice and open source.
This is actually a follow-up to the latest anti-choice folly, which began with a mindless ramble from Mac elitist Matt Asay. They really don’t understand or accept Free software and they are kicking a dead horse again. As for the latter, he continues to show his disdain or hatred for Linux on the desktop (another new example) and even for Richard Stallman (he has done this for years). █
Addendum: Aside from previous coverage of this closure [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9], see what Sam Dean writes: “Did Linspire sell to Xandros out of frustration with trying to promote desktop Linux?” He points to this article. It was either that or closing down then. Here is why Xandros will merely inherit Linspire’s problems (too negatives don’t make a positive).
The Xandros OS is a horrible show of what Linux could do, it actually makes peopel turn away and choose the nicer-looking XP, even though everyone knows Linux could look and perform much better. Putting this aside, I think that a merged distro would be in order to challenge the other major distributions and finally secure a good place for Xandros + Linspire in the top 5. Is it doable? I don’t know. But if they don’t do something real fast, the others are going to run them over and everybody will forget Xandros or Linspire ever existed…
For almost a year, the fate of Linspire has been gloomy. CNR is GPL-licensed, so the passing of assets will mean almost nothing. In reality, it’s almost as though the president shut down and made it look nicer (the ‘takeover’ spin).
“Linspire was a patent deal nuisance just like Xandros and it loses access to GPLv3-ed software (no grandfathering).”Linspire was a patent deal nuisance just like Xandros and it loses access to GPLv3-ed software (no grandfathering). None of these two will be missed and, over time, Novell becomes more of a Microsoft subsidiary whose role is to stomp on players like Ubuntu, Mandriva, and Red Hat. They do this using paid-for protocols, virtualisation, partners like SAP, and FUD. We’ve covered this before.
Avoid all distributions that play the software patents game with Microsoft, namely: Novell, Turbolinux, and Xandros. On top of that, avoid gadgets from LG, Samsung, and Fuji Xerox. █
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07.07.08
Posted in Microsoft, GNU/Linux, Novell, GPL, Ubuntu, Virtualization, Xen, xandros, Linspire at 2:00 am by Roy Schestowitz
It seems safe to say that people have come to grips with the fact that, after its deal with Microsoft, Linspire won’t be quite so visible anymore. It put itself in this downward spiral.
The company changed its name from Lindows, pulled out of an IPO, and then did a licensing deal with Microsoft, much like the ones signed by Xandros and Novell - only Linspire’s was even less popular.
Whoever signed this deal at the time either did not speak to a lawyer or was simply too foolish (and greedy). An internal post mortem could reveal who is responsible for the end of Linspire. At the moment, all that’s left is a legal mess and an abandoned plan [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. CNR is a non-asset despite what the following article tells.
So maybe this is the real value of the Xandros/Linspire deal: a humane package manager, a way to install external software in Linux that doesn’t scare off the uninitiated. I still like the idea of everything-in-the-repository for the sake of consistency, but the more possibilities we have on the table, the better.
CNR is already GPL-licensed though. What’s more, other analogous (and very satisfactory) solutions already exists. Even Kevin Carmony came to realise that Ubuntu, for instance, did not require CNR.
All in all, is seems like this so-called acquisition is just lipstick on a pig. It would be just embarrassing had Linspire shut down rather than sold itself.
Interestingly enough, Xandros might not end here. Pay attention to this.
Londini isn’t ruling out more acquisitions of this sort by Xandros in the near future.
Xandros’ CEO, Andreas Typaldos, has acknowledged that the move forms part of the company’s desire to expand into enterprise markets. “This is part of Xandros’ larger plan and vision for being a full product company to service both the consumer/OEM and enterprise markets,” he said.
Xandros has already acquired (ruined) Scalix, which now pays ‘Microsoft tax’ as well. So although Scalix never signed a deal with Microsoft, the Xandros takeover had a similar effect. They signed a quiet agreement later (’licensing’ protocols).
Companies like Xandros and Novell are a death blow to any FOSS entity they touch. It would be an issue if PlateSpin, for example, was a FOSS company. XenSource, on the oither hand, became a prisoner of Redmond because of Citrix. █
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07.05.08
Posted in Microsoft, Windows, Novell, SLES/SLED, Servers, IBM, xandros, Linspire, Turbolinux at 8:02 am by Roy Schestowitz
Nothing extraordinary, but a few minor developments
With Linspire out of the picture [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] and with almost zero presence or exposure for Turbolinux in the English-speaking media, we can finally pay more attention to just two companies that signed a software patent deal with their vicious competitor.
SUSE (SLES/SLED)
Mentioned earlier in the week was this story about GNU/Linux laptops at a school. What we did not share at the time is information about the distribution. Lenovo, being close to IBM, seems to favour SUSE on its laptops and this one situation was no exception.
Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted in Law, Microsoft, GNU/Linux, Videos, Interview, Linspire at 5:27 am by Roy Schestowitz
Watch this new interview with Kevin Carmony. We previously wrote about the end of Linspire in [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] and a cash inflow that he seems to be speaking of begs for some more questions about Microsoft and that mysterious deal. Maybe it’s not related to this. Being a private company, Linspire did not have to say much at the time. Groklaw raised concerns because of this. █
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07.04.08
Posted in Microsoft, GNU/Linux, Deception, FOSS, xandros, Linspire at 12:32 pm by Roy Schestowitz
It’s back to Free Software, people
“Open source is an intellectual-property destroyer […] I can’t imagine something that could be worse than this for the software business and the intellectual-property business. I’m an American; I believe in the American way, I worry if the government encourages open source, and I don’t think we’ve done enough education of policymakers to understand the threat.”
–Jim Allchin, Microsoft Vice President
H
ow quickly things change and how shamelessly can an abusive monopolist pretend. Shortly after the Sandcastle fiasco [1, 2], Microsoft becomes an egocentric opportunist once again. It is turning a disgusting case of “Open Source” abuse — some would say “a scandal” — into a publicity stunt and it’s appearing in the form of positive coverage in the media at the moment. It’s essentially advertising the proprietary software-reliant Sandcastle as “open source”. How weaselly.
“Will Microsoft try to play against VMWare using the “open source” buzzword of Xen?”There are other fascinating examples. Earlier today we showed how the technical chief of Xen was becoming a servant of Microsoft under the umbrella of its new Partner of the Year. He was preparing for big announcements. Will Microsoft try to play against VMWare using the “open source” buzzword of Xen? Evidence seems to appear in articles like this new one, but it’s too early to make an accurate prediction.
As a third example, consider this: a case of describing the GNU/Linux-hostile Silverlight in an open source context. Remember “open source-compatible”? The abuse of terminology for marketing purposes truly boggles the mind.
For more lies, see this short analysis of the Xandros-Linspire situation. Both are mentally aligned with Microsoft — in terms of business goals and ways of accomplishing these goals.
Funny lies reading: Q&A: Xandros’ CEO Andreas Typaldos — Kevin Carmony: Xandros / Linspire - Here Comes the Spin — Kevin Carmony: Michael Robertson, Where’s the Cash? — Michael Robertson: Xandros Buys Linspire — Comments on LWN.net, and on The Register.
Of course, it was all about this happening: Xandros Acquires Linspire, Creator of CNR Application Distribution Facility and Freespire Desktop.
Both distros are dead cows anyway.
We covered this before and reached a similar conclusion, which is backed by several other publications [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Selling out to Microsoft was an act of misery that will get these two players nowhere. All they ever wanted was a ‘cheap Windows’, without much (or any) regard for the values of Free software. it doesn’t work that way and they will find this out the hard way.
To borrow an old joke, you can put an “open source” lipstick on a proprietary resource pig and put it on the server. But it’s still a proprietary resource pig, which is bug-ridden, poorly-supported and therefore unstable and unreliable. No volunteer would support it. █
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Posted in GNU/Linux, Novell, SLES/SLED, Marketing, Xen, xandros, Linspire at 6:56 am by Roy Schestowitz
In previous coverage of the surprising acquisition [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], we showed that not everyone was pleased. Well, it’s getting uglier now. The money-obsessed Kevin Carmony asks Michael Robertson where the cash is and also retaliates with this post.
Michael Robertson finally broke his silence about what the 100 Linspire shareholders can expect from the sale to Xandros. No, this didn’t happen in a shareholder meeting, but to a reporter. Apparently reporters matter more to Michael than shareholders.
There’s a video there, too. The tensions are seen by reporters too they pick up the issues.
The new company will be named Digital Cornerstone Inc. Financial terms of the deal were kept secret.
His comments follow bitter remarks made by the firm’s ex-CEO and Linspire shareholder Kevin Carmony, who revealed earlier this week that a deal between the two Linux companies was underway.
Carmony laid into the takeover by accusing Robertson of being a sell-out and abandoning a “sinking ship”.
Watch what Dana Blankenhorn said:
One outlet described the deal as Linspire founder Michael Robertson deserting a sinking ship, but others will claim that it was sunk last June when it agreed to join Microsoft’s “IP Protection Racket.”
In The Inquirer it’s summarised as: “struggling Linux distributions huddle together.”
So, it’s not so fruitful to sell out to Microsoft, is it? Others are hopefully watching this and learning from it. Deals with Microsoft lead nowhere. Remember what an Acer VP boldly argued in public, according to this good new article from Free Software Magazine.
Gianpiero Morbello, Acer’s Vice President of Marketing and Brand, interviewed by vnunet, said, bluntly, that Acer “has shifted towards Linux because of Microsoft”.
He didn’t elaborate but went on to say, perhaps more importantly, that “Microsoft has a lot of power” which could make things difficult for them but they were nevertheless “determined to develop the Linux market”. That’s pretty bold talk but as the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We’ll have wait and see if they have the stomach for a showdown with Microsoft when the threats start to come. Perhaps they might start backsliding like Asus. In the real world, Microsoft has real power and it has never been slow or afraid to wield it when its commercial interests are threatened.
Further, says the same article:
The HP 2133 is another well spec’d contender but it chose to install SUSE, a Novell product that is being currently boycotted by many in the Unix community because of its link up with……Microsoft.
There are other new examples at arm’s distance. Remember the Xen story? Watch this new interview. Linux is not even mentioned. Wasn’t XenSource an open source and Linux-oriented software company before the Microsoft capture? Mind this bit:
GigaOM: But will Hyper-V compete with the Citrix server virtualization business anyway?
Crosby: You should look forward to interesting announcements of products to add value to Hyper-V. We’re going to sell into that footprint much like Citrix has always extended the use cases of Microsoft products.
Overall, the latest Xandros-Linspire move will go down in history as a bizarre one which is difficult to explain. It’s an indication of a total loss of direction.
As the famous saying goes, “Linux is not Windows.” Moreover, GNU/Linux cannot succeed with Microsoft’s help. It mustn’t depend on its fierce ideological rival. It’s a shame that Kevin Carmony failed on both counts and he may not realise that Linspire’s assets had been ’sold’ to Microsoft before they were sold to Xandros, so it’s truly his own fault. He is now happy with the not-so-Windows-esque Ubuntu. What does that teach us? █
“Based on years of conversations, I am convinced that part of the cause of the problem is the tendency to call the system Linux [Ed: let alone “Lindows”] rather than GNU, and describe it as open source rather than free software.”
–Richard Stallman
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07.03.08
Posted in Microsoft, GNU/Linux, xandros, Linspire at 5:16 am by Roy Schestowitz
Previous posts about the Xandros-Linspire acquisition are:
In this cumulative coverage and aggregation of information we gain better understanding of how Xandros and Microsoft interact. First of all, Rick Lehrbaum summarised the situation as follows:
Two highly vocal — though not particularly successful — U.S.-based desktop Linux vendors have become one.
Xandros is probably known to some people only because of ASUS.
The other day, the CEO of Xandros did not say how the ASUS Eee PC blended in with Xandros as a business, if at all. There is so much secrecy. Watch this new interview with him:
Q: What are the total sales and profits for the combined company?
A: Since Xandros is privately held, these figures are not publicly disclosed.
[…]
Q: How is this affect your Microsoft relationship … were they consulted on the deal?
A: It will not affect our Microsoft relationship. Xandros has always planned to continue increasing its product portfolio, and Microsoft understands and respects our strategy in that regard. On whether Microsoft was consulted, Xandros is an independent company and consults internally with its board, management, and advisors, and not with outside parties in making decisions.
Watch the image in Jack Germain’s article about it in ECT. It sums it up nicely. According to Linux Journal’s analysis, “Freespire will continue to be available as an Open Source project.” Well, Frespire was never Free software anyway. █
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« Previous entries ·
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.