Someone just asked me whether, now that Novells become buddies with Microsoft, Ill be turning away from Novell/SUSE as one of my favorite Linux distributions. My answer is no. Im sticking with SUSE Linux on both my desktops and servers. Heres why.
First, like many of you, I do think that Novells deal with Microsoft is a mistake.
While in the short run, I think the deal will be good for Novell. It will, after all, get its Linuxes into shops that would otherwise turn up their noses at anything without Windows in the title.
In the long run, I cant think of a single software company that has ever done well in an alliance with Microsoft. Can you?
The deal also enables Microsoft to wield the FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) of patent lawsuits against the other Linux companies.
Like its client company SCO once tried to do with SCOsource, Microsoft is asking other companies for royalties to cover IP (intellectual property) that it may not actually own.