CRN's Ed Moltzen has just posted an item that cites Novell executives. One of them, John Dragoon, even references the Bill Gates-funded Gartner as if Microsoft-commissioned studies are something to rely on.

Both John Dragoon, Novell's chief marketing officer, and Jeff Jaffe, Novell's CTO, offer up blog posts today on the subject - - both praising the results of the arrangement with their one-time enemy from Redmond.

Dragoon spoke about Novell's selfishness last year and this post's title says that the "Partnership Is Working Out Just Fine". Working out for who though? Among the things that Microsoft paid Novell for:

1. Holding back cooperation with Red Hat, Ubuntu, Mandriva and others
2. Supporting OOXML, i.e. helping Microsoft kill ODF
3. Fueling a patent intimidation campaign
4. Stifling the antitrust case in Europe

There are several more ill impacts of Novell's deal - -which they even called it an "alliance" at one point -- with Microsoft. Microsoft has truly gotten its money's worth. Novell could have actually received more money for selling blood (see context).



Financially, Novell still does badly and attempts to embellish things. Selling lots of blood is a short-term investment. You then faint.

Happy new year, Novell. ⬆