Dan's having fun... http://www.forbes.com/home/technology/2006/11/03/linux-microsoft-novell-tech-cz_dl_1103linux.html (Novell: We Surrender)
------- Microsoft's pact with Novell also cranks up the pressure on Red Hat. Last week, that company came under a separate attack when database giant Oracle (nasdaq: ORCL - news - people ) said it would start distributing its own version of Linux--a free clone of Red Hat's software. Oracle also intends to offer support to Red Hat customers for less than half of what Red Hat charges. Now, Red Hat must compete not only with Oracle but also with Microsoft, which will be promoting Suse Linux and steering customers away from Red Hat. Nevertheless, Red Hat's publicity department cheerily proclaimed that the Oracle and Microsoft announcements represent a terrific turn of events. "It's fantastic news. Two of the main tech companies decided to get behind Linux within six days. If that's not validation, what is?" Note to Red Hat: When companies start talking about Microsoft "validating" their market, they're usually about to be validated out of existence. Same goes for ailing software makers that announce some triumphant pact with Microsoft. These deals are like the Roach Motel. Companies go in and never come out. Think about this: Novell now has signed as its biggest reseller a company that wants nothing more than to kill its product. Microsoft has done this many times before, so often that Redmond has a name for the technique: embrace, extend and exterminate. And yet people keep doing these deals. Usually, it's weak, struggling, desperate companies with declining market share and little hope of turning things around. In other words, just like Novell. On Thursday night, I asked Jeff Jaffe, Novell's chief technology officer, if he could think of a company that had partnered with Microsoft and done really well as a result. Which Microsoft alliance, I asked him, would he cite as the model that he'd like to emulate? His response: "I think this partnership is breaking new ground." Um, right. Unfortunately, the new ground they're breaking is probably Novell's gravesite. ------- He he. regards, alexander. _______________________________________________ gnu-misc-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
