Amen brother!
Steve wrote:
On Wed, 2004-09-22 at 01:13, Darren Hayes wrote:
Q&A: Microsoft's Linux strategist Martin Taylor He sees Novell outpacing Red Hat as the preferred Linux distribution
http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/os/linux/story/0,10801,95988,00.html?nas=PM-95988
And Part 2:
http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/os/linux/story/0,10801,96055,00.html?from=story%5Fkc
Anyone else get the feeling that Microsoft wants Novell to emerge as the
clear leader in the Linux space?
To clarify, Linux is gaining ground and Microsoft knows this, they've
tried to stop the momentum with their massive FUD machine and dollar
glut but failed (so far). It seems to me that it would be to their
benefit to spin Novell as "the" Linux support and services vendor since
Novell is a familiar enemy that Microsoft has successfully crushed in
recent years past. Not to take anything away from Novell or SuSE (very
capable products) but Novell has never been good at promoting and
marketing products outside of the Technologist circle. This played a
huge role in Novell losing the OS "Holy War" of the 90's to Microsoft -
who actively and successfully marketed their poorly performing OS to the
unknowing corporate leaders that controlled the purse-strings. Although
IBM is going to help Novell's image (from the CFO perspective), if
Novell continues to try to influence purchase decisions through the Data
Center, and not follow Big Blue through the board-room doors, then
history will probably repeat itself in a few years.
To overstate the obvious, in summary, Microsoft is much better at developing powerful corporate client relationships than they are at developing technology (although they are pretty damn good at stealing technology). This is where Microsoft wins the battles, not in the Data Center, or even at the Desktop. If they had to rely on quality products to stay alive they would be marketing MS Office Pro for *nix and Media Player 9 codecs would be freely available to all.
Just my observation, take it for what it's worth.
Steve
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