In the press, Novell keeps attributing its 'success' to Microsoft, which is both tactless and absurd. Novell is now in a very uncomfortable position where it has to play nice with Microsoft, which is also its main rival. The same cannot be said about Microsoft, so it's not reciprocal; it's a one-way relationship. Novell is Microsoft-dependent, but Microsoft does not need Novell. Microsoft only requires Novell's help as a proxy that affects about a dozen threats and realigns them in Microsoft's favour.

How long will the Novell/Microsoft relationship last? Microsoft has already betrayed Novell once since the deal and many times in history.

If you were to look at the news just months before Ron Hovsepian phoned Microsoft to negotiate, you'll find this:

Microsoft Corp is using scare tactics to exert pressure on PC vendors not to explore the potential of desktop Linux, according to Novell Inc president and COO, Ron Hovsepian.

Also recall some of the following memorable quotes.

From Jim Allchin, Platform Group Vice President:

“We need to slaughter Novell before they get stronger….If you’re going to kill someone, there isn’t much reason to get all worked up about it and angry. You just pull the trigger. Any discussions beforehand are a waste of time. We need to smile at Novell while we pull the trigger.”

From Paul Flessner, Senior Vice President, Server Applications Unit:

“We should whack them [Dell over Linux dealings], we should make sure they understand our value.”

And from Joachim Kempin, Microsoft OEM Chief:

“I’m thinking of hitting the OEMs harder than in the past with anti-Linux. … they should do a delicate dance”

"Novell was desperate."It is very clear that Microsoft is not genuinely interested in helping Novell, so let's just wait until the honeymoon is over and Novell is yet again betrayed by Microsoft. Will Novell finally learn its lesson then? Microsoft has already turned Novell against a mutual rival -- Red Hat, with whom Novell could have and should have collaborated. Novell partnered with the wrong foe to attack the wrong foe; it aligned with the proprietary world and a convicted monopoly abuser to fight Free software instead of doing the very opposite. Novell was desperate.