Evolution is a rather unsecure email client which like most Novell products did not sell in dos, and in a last gasp attempt to be ‘relevant’ they open sourced it, bought Suse from Germany and then later signed a deal with Microsoft.
Since i wrote this ages ago – one Novell ‘light’ now has misgivings on the deal (link) but for me and many others the damage to Novell is done. A lot of Linux was asked to submit to the microsoft fud factory but only they and another distro (xandos? **) succumbed to the threats.
There are many better Linux disto’s out there Take Ubuntu, or Fedora to name two.
So i am also Now thats been dealt with. I was looking at a debian inspired linux distro and ever since the deal i am pleased to report that the email client is not getting installed by default, which before the deal with Microsoft it was on many distros.
I approve of this as it starves Novell of any credit, theres a decent alternative, and should Novell go bad (like in sco who also took Microsoft’s money) then the project if need be could be forked, and removes Novell from the open source thing completely.
Theres two kind of Novell employees those who think Microsoft will save the, and then theres the rest whom have been tainted with the lies and fud that only Novell and one other distro decided to jump into bed with.
So what does a deal with Microsoft mean to Novell – a deal with Microsoft should me a benefit for both parties not a means for ms to kill your competition which has happened many times in the past.
Redhat (and its clones) go from strength to strength, Have ms made good and saved Novell by suing Linux (eg fud) for infringing 235 patents – no so there is no point to the deal.
So what was the point of the deal – well the board of Novell will do well but so did Darl McBride but then that company doesnt exist anymore (only as a name) either.
Beware if Microsoft approach you, take a look at scox and i consider that novell will be the next scox.
* if your not from Kansas please kill yourselves as well.
** nobody appears to use it
