Darryl Gregorash wrote:
On 2006-11-02 16:24, Robert Smits wrote:
On Thursday 02 November 2006 14:18, Fred A. Miller wrote:
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2006/11/02/microsoft_nov ell_may_partner_on_linux/
I am surprised, perhaps even amazed that Novell would take this risk with such an untrustworthy "partner" as Microsoft. The industry is replete with examples, like IBM that did this to their cost.
Nevertheless, perhaps some good can come from this, especially if Microsoft stops trying to break Open Office.
I am tempted to say "there goes the neighbourhood," but this may well be a major breakthrough for Linux, and not only for SuSE itself.
However, your first paragraph touches on a very important point: Microsoft does not have a good track record in dealing with its business "partners." IBM is only the largest of all the examples of Microsoft "partners" who have felt the knife slide into their backs.
This looks to me like an extremely risky move on the part of Novell. Just the announcement had a dramatic effect on Novell's stock price. What would happen if MS decided to back out at a strategic moment. Offering an alliance, has long been a favorite corporate method of dealing with dangerous competition, and MS has used it before. -- ED --