untouchableForce writes "Dell has announced that it will join forces with Microsoft and Novell to "make it easier for the Windows operating system and the [...] Linux [operating] system to work together." This is not overly surprising given Dell's good relationship with Microsoft, and since they already sell SUSE Linux on some of their servers, but it is likely to put a stop to the OSS community's celebration of them distributing Ubuntu. The debate over partnership between Microsoft and Novell has been drawn out since the deal was signed and for some this will add additional fuel to the fire but shouldn't the OSS community be reading this as an acceptance of Company's acknowledgment of Linux?"
Indeed - I see it as a major step towards Dell selling Linux on a larger scale.
OTOH, I sincerely hope this isn't going to become a pattern, where MSFT makes bank every time an OEM moved towards Linux. Something about it just seems plain wrong, and looks like an admission of guilt towards a contention that probably does not exist (the assertion of MSFT somehow owning IP to Linux or OS tech).
I do have a problem with Microsoft getting something for every PC sold with Linux. But, that said, it is a much better situation than every PC comming with Windows.
I do have a problem with Microsoft getting something for every PC sold with Linux.
Well, me too. But the problem is the US legal system, really - note that Fraunhofer, Alcatel and likely Novell and IBM make money from every Windows PC sold. Merely as a simple consequence of the current patent system. Blame the legislators and those that lobbied for it (which includes Microsoft, of course).
Anyhow, the real issue is that Microsoft see Linux as a rising force in the industry. They are therefore moving to p
There is lots of controversy regarding mono. To ask if anyone doubts if mono infringes indicates you've already made up your mind. I don't see where they have infringed. Could you be specific? Or are you just paranoid?
The Mono team admits that their implementation of ADO.NET, ASP.NET and Windows.Forms is a "potential" problem.
I see:
Jim Miller at Microsoft has made a statement on the patents covering ISO/ECMA [archive.org], (he is one of the inventors listed in the patent).
Basically a grant is given to anyone who want to implement those components for free and for any purpose
And as for the other stuff it says:
Mono's strategy for dealing with any potential issues that might arise with ASP.NET, ADO.NET or Windows.Forms is
did you ever think that the Ubuntu deal was done specifically to get a better price on the Microsoft/Novell deal? I've been asking myself why/how Dell could be doing the Ubuntu deal without threatening it's massive cash flow coming from Microsoft in co-branding and marketing contracts. That cash has been said to make up over 20% of Dell's profits and Dell can't afford to lose 20% of its profits. So could it be that much like how Dell kept playing AMD against Intel for 4 or 5 years to get great pricing and ki
Would be nice if we could get an actual statement and maybe even an interview with Michael Dell here.
Quite right, between this, and Dell's decision to offer Ubuntu on desktops, it's about time for an slashdot interview with Michael Dell. Any idea how to get this started?
Exactly the opposite - if they're suggesting they need a patent deal like this to be allowed to distribute Linux, then they are not allowed to distribute it - see the GPL (For example, if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program).
shouldn't the OSS community be reading this as an acceptance of Company's acknowledgment of Linux?
I suppose an OpenSource deal with the Devil is still an OpenSource deal, so why look a gift horse in the mouth (even if it is one of the four horses of the apocalypse)?
i agree about the four horses part. M$ doesnt want to embrase linux as much as they want to extinguish. as someone else pointed out, they eventually want to make people think they (or novell by partnership) are the only ligitimate linux distributors and all others are unofficial/unsupported. I can see the add: "free linux distros come and go. run and you risk being left with out tech support. we're M$ and we're your linux source."
they eventually want to make people think they (or novell by partnership) are the only ligitimate linux distributors and all others are unofficial/unsupported.
Well, actually the ARE the only distribution that will be officially supported by MS to work with Windows. If Linux ever takes off in a big way, then I would bet a large amount of money that Novell/MS is going to be the industry standard for Linux for that reason, alone.
If I had the points, I would mod you up. Even if the IP thing is a red hearing, even if Microsoft meant it, and it is now pretty much tossed out by the Supreme Court. Novell having a deal with Microsoft AND now being the only official version of linux to work with Microsoft products AND now having DELL load SUSE on servers. I would say Microsoft has finally found a way to survive in a linux world.
As long as Novel and Microsoft has a deal, Microsoft provides support and the big boys DELL/HP only sell servers
Dell will also establish a services and marketing program to migrate existing Linux users who are not Dell Linux customers [com.com] to Suse Linux, Microsoft said.
GP:Dell has agreed to buy Suse Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft P:SUSE has become MS Linux. Thanks a lot, Novell.
That's the way business works in the real world.
You subcontract to a subcontractor who subcontracts to a sub-subcontractor who subcontracts to a sub-sub-subcontractor who subcontracts to... until eventually the circle is completed and someone subcontracts the final assembly to a different division within your very own company.
If you really want your precious little GPLv2'd operating system to come down out of the ivory tower and make a run for it in the real world, then you're going to have to get your hands dirty with this thing called "The Free Market".
Microsoft doesn't seem to think that linux is "little," and neither does Novell. If they did, they wouldn't have spent so much legal time trying to find a way to circumvent the GPL terms meant to preserve the integrity of the community system in which linux and the applications
Dell will also establish a services and marketing program to migrate existing Linux users who are not Dell Linux customers to Suse Linux, Microsoft said.
Too bad for them.
I am a senior admin at a data center which is home to thousands of Dell servers, many of which run Linux. Our standard Linux build uses CentOS [centos.org] and therefore we order the machines with "no operating system installed." If Dell approaches us and tells us that they're going to forcibly move us over to Microsoft Linux (aka Novell/Ximian/SuS
The MS Active Directory system and Exchange is what keeps MS shops locked in. Lately, the Active Directory integration has improved with new wizards from Redhat and Mandriva, but the Exchange front still sucks.
It used to be like pulling teeth to get anywhere next to current drivers and software for Linux, but over the last few years, it's just as good as Windows. Man, it sucked to have to boot a server in Windows or visit it with a USB floppy drive in order to update firmware. I see this move as a good thing. Dell realizes they sell more boxes with better Windows AND Linux support than with good support for just one of these...
Something still doesn't make sense in this cluster of partnerships.
Microsoft said it would offer corporate customers a chance to license its Windows operating system as part of a package that includes maintenance and support for Novell's Suse Linux platform.
This strikes me as a strange statement. This is like offering a chance to lease a Ford with every Honda maintenance.
I get that Dell might see patent immunity as an advantage, but if Microsoft gives patent immunity to everyone, then this contradicts the proposed strategy of using patents as a weapon. Giving patent immunity to Novell was simply an empty gesture, of course. But if cards fall right Dell could actually become a substantial distributer of preinstalled Linux systems. With too many of these deals, patents can no longer be used against Linux, contradicting a plan Microsoft had stated a desire for for some time.
While patent immunity for Linux installations is a good result, I'm not primed to expect good results from Microsoft after a history of them not acting in such a manner. So I am still left wondering what is going on behind the scenes here.
Life is strange, and these are "interesting times", for sure, but in terms of what is really going on [zdnet.co.uk], I suspect there might just be other sharks circling in these waters and creating a little bit of turbulence:
As a result, even though the two companies have spent the last decade battling each other, Novell's chief executive Ronald Hovsepian found it in himself to approach a contact at Microsoft last year, after a boardroom shake-up in June 2006 saw him replace then incumbent, Jack Messman.
This should be read as the first nail in the coffin of linux. There is no way that MS will let any other distribution but suse exist; and only then for as long as it takes to kill off ubuntu, etc.
Killing the open document format, getting linux pushed off the OLPC project and off of Dell...these should all be seen as signs that Microsoft is serious about eliminating Linux (and Free Software) with extreme prejudice.
Any win for Novell is a loss for Free Software; particularly in this case.
Your statements show such an ignorance of Novell's history and works that I barely know where to start. If you'd stop fuming for a second from your irrational Novell and Microsoft hate campaign, you would head around to a few facts:
* Microsoft has explicitly mentioned that its deal with Novell is not exclusive
* Novell has done more for OSS over the years than you can possibly imagine; do a little Googling. They're still the biggest contributors to GNOME and KDE, and pipe incredibly significant development
GNOME, sure, but KDE? Granted, I'm lazy and haven't done any research, but what's gone KDE's way while Novell pumps GNOME?
Novell bought Ximian, and that has resulted in significant contributions to GNOME from Novell via the Ximian staff. Novell also bought SUSE, and that has resulted in significant contributions to KDE from Novell via the SUSE staff (since SUSE was one of the major contributors of KDE code). Think of it this way: Novell, unlike Redhat, has been quite seriously pursuing the corporate desktop (Redhat has been halfheartedly pursuing it at best, and instead focusing on servers); that has involved quite a bit of user testing and usability studies, the results of which can be applied to both desktops.
In the world, there are many companies who like the idea of Linux and love its cost, but do worry about compatibility issues. Those companies get all warm and fuzzy inside when they hear news releases like this because they think "oh, someone is making sure that isn't a problem".
Whether it is a problem or not, IT people at companies often like the path of least resistance (don't we all) and so paying a little money for something they have to worry less about it a good thing to them.
I don't like Novell cozying up to M$ any more than anyone on/., but I understand why they're doing it - they're customers want compatibility guarantees and protection from IP disputes. The only real way to break ourselves of deals like this is with legislation for open-standards and IP-law reform. Those two would mean that companies using Linux would have no fear about using the OS - even if those fears today are simply in their heads.
"I don't like Novell cozying up to M$ any more than anyone on/., but I understand why they're doing it - they're customers want compatibility guarantees and protection from IP disputes."
IMO, you are helping Novell out by repeating this myth. The main reason why Novell sold everyone out is because they were cash strapped. Novell was in serious debt, and that $350 Million from Microsoft offered them a way out.
Anything they said about customers was just at best secondary, and likely just a convenient excu
From TFA: On Sunday, Microsoft and Novell said Dell has agreed to buy Suse Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft and that the computer maker will set up a services and marketing program aimed at getting users of open-source platforms to switch to the new Suse Linux offering.
"Dell is the first major systems provider to align with Microsoft and Novell in this collaboration, and we intend to lead in this space," Rick Becker, a vice president in Dell's product group, said in a statement.
The pact between Microsoft and Novell is primarily aimed at the growing number of major companies and government agencies that rely on both Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft's patent-protected Windows and Novell's open-source Linux platform to run their computers....
Home PCs will still likely run Ubuntu. There's hardly any point running Enterprise Servers (which is nothing but marketing speak, anyway) in one's Home PC. And nothing can prevent corporates from installing Dell's Ubuntu-based Home offerings in company networks.
It's one thing to sell Microsoft products. It's completely another thing to sell non-Microsoft products, (products which are by-and-large purchased because people want an alternative to feeding Microsoft), and then pay Microsoft for it.
You were just about to score a MAJOR open source gig with the ubuntu thing, not only making you a pioneer in a new field of linux on mass market desktops, but also endearing you to the ominously large developer community that works on open source.
do not just scratch all your gains with one stupid deal with microsoft/novell misfortune. even novell regret it since 2 days after they signed it.
'Microsoft is purchasing and redistributing [nwsource.com] Suse Linux Enterprise Server certificates under the deal'
So basically certain companies are paying Microsoft to use their own SuSE software. What Novell are doing is legitimizing MS claim to Linix IP rights. A precident of gigantic and enormous consequences. Novell basically gave away their business under vague threats of IP violations. I can see what Microsoft got out of the deal, but I can't for the life of me see what Novell gets out of it.
An analogy, I'm the CIO of Corleone olive oil business and out of the blue the New Jersey Mob phones me up and say I am violating their patented recipe . But they say, lets do a deal, we'll promise not to sue and give you the rights to continue to distribute our patented recipe and in return we'll purchase 'certificates' to distribute Corleone olive oil.
Next thing I know people are ringing me up asking why they should be paying me for New Jersey olive oil. Before ya know it I am out of the olive oil business. The Jersey crew offer to buy out my business at a rock bottom price and to let me stay on as CEO, if I don't go squealing to the the FEDs. Years later people would ask me why I gave away the family business to a shister extortionist - without raising a finger.
Novell is going to own the most popular Linux distribution in a few years. That's not too shabby of a deal. I fail to see what you're failing to see about this deal. Novel/SUSE becomes the only version of Linux that MS officially supports to work with Windows, SUSE becomes the most popular distribution used in commercial settings by a large margin, and Novell laughs all the way to the bank.
Okay. So it's news. Someone else has officially jumped into the plutonium-laced hot tub built by MS & Novell. But folks, Dell has been a Microsoft shill for so long that this really isn't that surprising. The only aspect of this story whose betting outcome was in doubt until now was how long before they joined it. Meanwhile, be sure not to use breakpoints or linked lists unless you're running on Dell hardware, or running an operating system from Microsoft or Novell. Especially now that you know that ther
Read the article - This deal affects Suse Linux Enterprise Server. This is no surprise; Microsoft has acknowleged that Linux has market strength on servers, and knows it must coesist with Linux in that space. MS, however, would not support adoption of Linux on desktops, which this deal doesn't address. No one can know for sure, but if Dell still has any intention of addressing the desktop Linux market demand, they may still use Ubuntu to do this independent of this MS/Novell deal.
This article gives the reader the distinct impression (read: presents as fact) that Linux is a program created by Novell. In fact it distinctly hints at the fact that there are in fact two operating systems in existence: Microsoft Windows and Novell Linux.
It's a good thing those two are finally working together to make the world a better place. For great justice.
Microsoft was caught off-guard by Dells move to put Linux on their machines. Microsoft was simply not expecting them to do it. Now that they realize that Dell is serious about it, they offered Dell kickbacks in order to put Microsoft/Novell software on the machines instead of the free-as-in-beer Ubuntu Linux so they can keep control over their customer base.
It's ridiculous to call the software they produce and distribute free as in beer. They contribute upstream, they release all their source, they give redistribution rights, they don't discriminate on field of endeavor.
They are allowing FREEDOM (ie use the software you need if none that support the 4 freedoms are available). Isn't it less free to turn your nose up at something than to inform your users of the licensing issues, let them know they won't get support, and let them use their computers the way THEY see fit?
What definition of FREEDOM do you have that restricts users rights to use something in the name of "freedom"?
That, in my estimation, is freer than a restrictive definition of freedom. Freedom should never take rights away, only add guarantee that you won't take them away from others.
'Why does Dell have to purchase Suse Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft?'
It's to pollute Novell Suse with Windows and get people used to the idea of 'purchasing' SuSE Linux licenses from Microsoft. Not a lot of revenue in the mean time but ultimatly it will open up an avenue to buying out Novell and then suppressing non-Microsoft Linux.
billg: look see Novell is paying us revenue to sell SuSE, must be something in the litigation claims:)
This deal also..... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:This deal also..... (Score:5, Insightful)
OTOH, I sincerely hope this isn't going to become a pattern, where MSFT makes bank every time an OEM moved towards Linux. Something about it just seems plain wrong, and looks like an admission of guilt towards a contention that probably does not exist (the assertion of MSFT somehow owning IP to Linux or OS tech).
Parent
Re:This deal also..... (Score:5, Insightful)
I do have a problem with Microsoft getting something for every PC sold with Linux. But, that said, it is a much better situation than every PC comming with Windows.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Well, me too. But the problem is the US legal system, really - note that Fraunhofer, Alcatel and likely Novell and IBM make money from every Windows PC sold. Merely as a simple consequence of the current patent system. Blame the legislators and those that lobbied for it (which includes Microsoft, of course).
Anyhow, the real issue is that Microsoft see Linux as a rising force in the industry. They are therefore moving to p
Re: (Score:2)
Given that Ubuntu includes Mono by default, I'm almost certain it does include patented Microsoft technology. Does anyone seriously doubt that?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I see:
And as for the other stuff it says:
Re:This deal also..... (Score:5, Informative)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Ideastorm topic added (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/67008/Dont_
Anyone concerned about Dell's involvement in this MS/Novell pact should promote and comment on it.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
So could it be that much like how Dell kept playing AMD against Intel for 4 or 5 years to get great pricing and ki
Re:Mod Parent UP (Score:4, Interesting)
Quite right, between this, and Dell's decision to offer Ubuntu on desktops, it's about time for an slashdot interview with Michael Dell. Any idea how to get this started?
Parent
Re:This deal also..... (Score:5, Informative)
Exactly the opposite - if they're suggesting they need a patent deal like this to be allowed to distribute Linux, then they are not allowed to distribute it - see the GPL (For example, if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program).
It would open them up to GPL violation law suits.
Parent
Oy Carumba (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oy Carumba (Score:4, Insightful)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Well, actually the ARE the only distribution that will be officially supported by MS to work with Windows. If Linux ever takes off in a big way, then I would bet a large amount of money that Novell/MS is going to be the industry standard for Linux for that reason, alone.
Re: (Score:2)
Even if the IP thing is a red hearing, even if Microsoft meant it, and it is now pretty much tossed out by the Supreme Court. Novell having a deal with Microsoft AND now being the only official version of linux to work with Microsoft products AND now having DELL load SUSE on servers. I would say Microsoft has finally found a way to survive in a linux world.
As long as Novel and Microsoft has a deal, Microsoft provides support and the big boys DELL/HP only sell servers
Look.... (Score:2)
Bill the Borg (Score:2, Interesting)
Embrace and extend.
Novell SUSE is now MS Linux. (Score:3, Insightful)
Oh grow up. (Score:3, Interesting)
GP: Dell has agreed to buy Suse Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft
P: SUSE has become MS Linux. Thanks a lot, Novell.
That's the way business works in the real world.
You subcontract to a subcontractor who subcontracts to a sub-subcontractor who subcontracts to a sub-sub-subcontractor who subcontracts to... until eventually the circle is completed and someone subcontracts the final assembly to a different division within your very own company.
If you really want your precious little GP
Re: (Score:2)
Microsoft doesn't seem to think that linux is "little," and neither does Novell. If they did, they wouldn't have spent so much legal time trying to find a way to circumvent the GPL terms meant to preserve the integrity of the community system in which linux and the applications
Re: (Score:2)
Too bad for them.
I am a senior admin at a data center which is home to thousands of Dell servers, many of which run Linux. Our standard Linux build uses CentOS [centos.org] and therefore we order the machines with "no operating system installed." If Dell approaches us and tells us that they're going to forcibly move us over to Microsoft Linux (aka Novell/Ximian/SuS
Good news (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Also samba 4 should be a vast improvement AD wise.
In our datacenter, Dell's doing well with Linux (Score:5, Insightful)
What's really going on here? (Score:5, Interesting)
This strikes me as a strange statement. This is like offering a chance to lease a Ford with every Honda maintenance.
I get that Dell might see patent immunity as an advantage, but if Microsoft gives patent immunity to everyone, then this contradicts the proposed strategy of using patents as a weapon. Giving patent immunity to Novell was simply an empty gesture, of course. But if cards fall right Dell could actually become a substantial distributer of preinstalled Linux systems. With too many of these deals, patents can no longer be used against Linux, contradicting a plan Microsoft had stated a desire for for some time.
While patent immunity for Linux installations is a good result, I'm not primed to expect good results from Microsoft after a history of them not acting in such a manner. So I am still left wondering what is going on behind the scenes here.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
No. (Score:4, Insightful)
Killing the open document format, getting linux pushed off the OLPC project and off of Dell...these should all be seen as signs that Microsoft is serious about eliminating Linux (and Free Software) with extreme prejudice.
Any win for Novell is a loss for Free Software; particularly in this case.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
* Microsoft has explicitly mentioned that its deal with Novell is not exclusive
* Novell has done more for OSS over the years than you can possibly imagine; do a little Googling. They're still the biggest contributors to GNOME and KDE, and pipe incredibly significant development
Re:No. (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Re:No. (Score:5, Insightful)
There is no way that MS will let any other distribution but suse exist
There is no way for MS to stop other distributions from existing.
Parent
There's a demand for MS-Helped Linux (Score:4, Interesting)
Whether it is a problem or not, IT people at companies often like the path of least resistance (don't we all) and so paying a little money for something they have to worry less about it a good thing to them.
I don't like Novell cozying up to M$ any more than anyone on
Correction - why Novel sold (everyone) out (Score:3, Informative)
IMO, you are helping Novell out by repeating this myth. The main reason why Novell sold everyone out is because they were cash strapped. Novell was in serious debt, and that $350 Million from Microsoft offered them a way out.
Anything they said about customers was just at best secondary, and likely just a convenient excu
This isn't for the home segment... (Score:4, Informative)
On Sunday, Microsoft and Novell said Dell has agreed to buy Suse Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft and that the computer maker will set up a services and marketing program aimed at getting users of open-source platforms to switch to the new Suse Linux offering.
"Dell is the first major systems provider to align with Microsoft and Novell in this collaboration, and we intend to lead in this space," Rick Becker, a vice president in Dell's product group, said in a statement.
The pact between Microsoft and Novell is primarily aimed at the growing number of major companies and government agencies that rely on both Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft's patent-protected Windows and Novell's open-source Linux platform to run their computers....
Home PCs will still likely run Ubuntu.
There's hardly any point running Enterprise Servers (which is nothing but marketing speak, anyway) in one's Home PC.
And nothing can prevent corporates from installing Dell's Ubuntu-based Home offerings in company networks.
So now what? (Score:2)
So do we support linux and continue to support Dell? or do we shun them and kill off any hopes for pre-installed Linux?
I say screw em.. Linux will make it to the desktop eventually.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Dell - wake up ! (Score:2)
do not just scratch all your gains with one stupid deal with microsoft/novell misfortune. even novell regret it since 2 days after they signed it.
Microsoft Linux Enterprise Server certificate .. (Score:4, Insightful)
So basically certain companies are paying Microsoft to use their own SuSE software. What Novell are doing is legitimizing MS claim to Linix IP rights. A precident of gigantic and enormous consequences. Novell basically gave away their business under vague threats of IP violations. I can see what Microsoft got out of the deal, but I can't for the life of me see what Novell gets out of it.
An analogy, I'm the CIO of Corleone olive oil business and out of the blue the New Jersey Mob phones me up and say I am violating their patented recipe . But they say, lets do a deal, we'll promise not to sue and give you the rights to continue to distribute our patented recipe and in return we'll purchase 'certificates' to distribute Corleone olive oil.
Next thing I know people are ringing me up asking why they should be paying me for New Jersey olive oil. Before ya know it I am out of the olive oil business. The Jersey crew offer to buy out my business at a rock bottom price and to let me stay on as CEO, if I don't go squealing to the the FEDs. Years later people would ask me why I gave away the family business to a shister extortionist - without raising a finger.
Re:Microsoft Linux Enterprise Server certificate . (Score:2)
And this is news because? (Score:2)
Meanwhile, be sure not to use breakpoints or linked lists unless you're running on Dell hardware, or running an operating system from Microsoft or Novell. Especially now that you know that ther
Ubuntu/Dell may not be Dead (Score:2)
Wow this article isn't biased at all (Score:3, Informative)
This article gives the reader the distinct impression (read: presents as fact) that Linux is a program created by Novell. In fact it distinctly hints at the fact that there are in fact two operating systems in existence: Microsoft Windows and Novell Linux.
It's a good thing those two are finally working together to make the world a better place. For great justice.
What really happened: (Score:4, Interesting)
Parent
Re:What really happened: (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:Free as in Freedom, good sir (Score:4, Insightful)
They are allowing FREEDOM (ie use the software you need if none that support the 4 freedoms are available). Isn't it less free to turn your nose up at something than to inform your users of the licensing issues, let them know they won't get support, and let them use their computers the way THEY see fit?
What definition of FREEDOM do you have that restricts users rights to use something in the name of "freedom"?
That, in my estimation, is freer than a restrictive definition of freedom. Freedom should never take rights away, only add guarantee that you won't take them away from others.
Parent
Re:Dang. (Score:4, Insightful)
Parent
yea, the bigger picture .. (Score:2)
It's to pollute Novell Suse with Windows and get people used to the idea of 'purchasing' SuSE Linux licenses from Microsoft. Not a lot of revenue in the mean time but ultimatly it will open up an avenue to buying out Novell and then suppressing non-Microsoft Linux.
billg: look see Novell is paying us revenue to sell SuSE, must be something in the litigation claims
Hey, Novell: being f***d over by MS the once