Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 3rd Nov 2006 20:02 UTC
Some more reactions to the Novell-Microsoft deal. Firstly, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said his company is open to talking to other Linux distributors about reaching mutual patent coverage deals similar to the agreement signed Nov. 2 with Novell. Secondly, according to Red Hat, this deal means that 'Linux has won', while also saying they would never make such an agreement with Microsoft: "An innovation tax is unthinkable. Free and open source software provide the necessary environment for true innovation. Innovation without fear or threat. Activities that isolate communities or limit upstream adoption will inevitably stifle innovation." More reactions here and here. Update: Another response from Red Hat. In one year's time, a Red Hat general counsil said, Red Hat will be the only Linux commercial vendor left standing, Microsoft support or not.
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Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:
2005-07-06
What red hat is doing is spreading FUD to stop its own destruction and using you as a puppet to reach their goal
If you think Red Hat is heading towards destruction then you're quite mistaken. Although some misinformed analysts have portrayed recent events as such, basically it's just gone to prove how untouchable Red Hat currently are.
Oracle's decision to effectively fork Red Hat is a joke. Not only are they going to have to fund a whole Red Hat clone distribution that they don't believe in and won't support adequately anyway, they're going to have to replicate all the certifications Red Hat has and outdo Red Hat on functionality, not just price. The price of Red Hat, with the customers that they have, is nothing when they're also paying ridiculous sums for Oracle as well.
The Oracle threat, if you can call it that, is a joke. Red Hat using Postgres will wipe Oracle out long before Oracle knows the first thing about developing a Linux distribution.
Then we come to Novell. Everyone expected big things of Novell when they took over Suse, and expected them to quickly head to the top of the pile in the Linux world. As it stands, Novell are a very, very distant second, Red Hat have moved even further in front and they've even managed to completely alienate and confuse their bedrock Netware userbase by moving some things to Linux, not providing adequate replacements and coming up with bizarre half-breeds like Open Enterprise Server. Netware users knew why they used Netware - because it was a first-rate file, print and networking OS and that's what it was built for. Not so now with Linux. Novell should have had one Linux distribution, combining all the functionality of Netware, even if that meant open sourcing various Netware components and giving their customers a clear migration path.
Novell are falling so far behind Red Hat, and their Linux revenues are so utterly pitiful, with their Netware revenues declining fast, that they desperately, and I really mean desperately, need to do something. That's what this deal with Microsoft is - desperation. I mean, not even Messman was this desperate and stupid. Of course, Microsoft get other long-term things out of this deal.
Novell desperately need to find something that will sell their Linux software, and this is what they've come up with: "Use Suse Linux and you'll be safe if Microsoft comes along and sues you!" How about that? Innovative or what, eh?! That's the best they can currently come up with. Sad. Very sad.
Yer. Red Hat are in real, desperate, dire straights and are at real risk from some cunning, clever, agile and quick-witted competitors :->.