Novell/Microsoft Deal: Good for Novell, Good for Linux?

Published: Nov 2, 2006
Updated: Feb 2, 2021
1 minute read
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Microsoft? Microsoft is giving a Linux distribution its blessing? Novell is working with its arch-enemy of over 20-years?

It still seems unbelievable, but it did happen. Microsoft is “supporting” Linux, and both companies are working together to improve interoperability between Windows and Linux.

So, this is great news, right? Microsoft finally admits Linux is not only for real, but that they need to work with it. Wonderful, right? Right?

OK, so it is wonderful for Novell. This move instantly makes SLES (SUSE Linux Enterprise Server) the Linux of choice for any company thats already invested in Windows.

Forget about the 75,000 SLES discount coupons that Microsoft will be giving to customers that are interested in Linux.

/zimages/5/28571.gifRead the full story on Linux-Watch: Novell/Microsoft Deal: Good for Novell, Good for Linux?

eWEEK.com Senior Editor Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols has been using and writing about operating systems since the late 80s and thinks he may just have learned something about them along the way. He can be reached at sjvn@ziffdavis.com.

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Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

I'm editor-at-large for Ziff Davis Enterprise. That's a fancy title that means I write about whatever topic strikes my fancy or needs written about across the Ziff Davis Enterprise family of publications. You'll find most of my stories in Linux-Watch, DesktopLinux and eWEEK. Prior to becoming a technology journalist, I worked at NASA and the Department of Defense on numerous major technological projects.

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