Quick Mention: The 3 Novells That Failed and the One Successful Legacy

Dr. Roy Schestowitz

2008-02-20 11:40:18 UTC
Modified: 2008-02-20 11:40:18 UTC

Can't get a fifth chance amid inevitable recession

Mister Var Guy Joe spoke to Novell's newly-appointed Global Channel Sales VP, who replaced a guy that had quit the company a few months ago (among others). He actually makes an excellent observation by dividing up Novell's lifetime into separate 'eras', each of which saw a different level of success.

During its prime in the early 1990s — call it Novell 1.0 — the company had a robust channel organization and 60 percent server market share. Software, hardware and VAR partners eagerly displayed the “Yes” logo as a sign of their commitment and support to Novell NetWare. Then came Novell 2.0 — the mid-1990s, which was highlighted by several failed software acquisitions like Unix Systems Labs and WordPerfect. Novell 3.0, according to The VAR Guy, involved a flawed consulting push built around 2001’s Cambridge Technology Partners acquisition.

Novell rests on its laurels (or savings) from 1.0 days, but it appears like the company runs out of money more quickly than it wishes you to believe (cooking the books also). Interestingly enough, the same goes for Microsoft, which is on a similar boat where it fails to reinvent itself. Maybe those two companies make a good pair after all. They could share a tombstone and lower their expenses this way. ⬆

Comments

James McDougal

2008-02-20 12:06:29

I'm curious - why do you care about Novell so much Roy?
Roy Schestowitz

2008-02-20 12:14:21

Novell's deal with Microsoft poses great risks to the future of Free software, to which I dedicated a great deal of my time at the expense of other things. You can explore the site to receive answers to the question: "how does Novell (+Microsoft) harm Free software, including GNU/Linux?"
Mark Fink

2008-02-20 16:15:16

James, why the concern? Do you work for Novell? Get your trolling arse back to greasing Microsoft's axle.
Roy Schestowitz

2008-02-20 16:33:59

James is posting from Singapore, which I find suspicious.

Recent Techrights' Posts

The GNU Manifesto Turns 40 in a Few Weeks: The FSF turns 40 later this year, too
Another Talk by Richard Stallman Tomorrow, This Time in Bengaluru: This means that in January 2025 he is giving at least 5 public talks
Rhino Linux Can (and Perhaps Should) Promote Alternatives to Microsoft Instead of Preloading Microsoft: Deeper down inside Rhino Linux there's a problem
Slashdot is Once Again Publishing Lies and Revisionism for Bill Gates, Citing Microsoft's MSN to Rewrite History and Distract From the Jeffrey Epstein Crimes: Of course this also distracts
Too Big, Will Fail (How Linux Grew Way Too Fat): Linux has very extensive hardware support, but that comes at a cost
"SuccessFactors" (SAP) Stunts at the EPO Used to Break Laws and Constitutions, Staff Tricked Into Harming Themselves: Ongoing corruption and lawlessness became the norm; Europe's second-largest institution (EPO) along with the largest institution (EU) has its very own Minsk
Continued Support and Momentum at the Free Software Foundation (FSF): "This helps protect our community."
Over at Tux Machines...: GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, January 27, 2025: IRC logs for Monday, January 27, 2025
Links 27/01/2025: Lukashenko's Sham Elections, TikTok for Insurrection Loyalist (Larry Ellison)?: Links for the day
Gemini Links 27/01/2025: IndieWeb Musings and Devlog: Links for the day
IBM Layoffs in "Co-location Mandate" Clothing: It's possible that later this week, around the time of the so-called 'results', many layoffs would be announced
Microsoft-Funded IDG Seems to be 'Googlebombing' the Term Free Software to Promote Proprietary Spyware Too: Microsoft advocated along with other proprietary things
Videos and Photos of Richard Stallman's (RMS) Keynote Address in India Earlier Today: He probably told the target audience (India) a thing or two about the role of proprietary software in colonialism
GAFAM Hates - Except in a Worryingly Parasitic Way - GNU/Linux and Its Freedoms (or Its Users): Let the story from DistroWatch serve as a reminder that the era of Social Control Media is over
Links 27/01/2025: Social Control Media Explores Propaganda for Racism as a Business Model, China’s Tibet Dam Criticised: Links for the day
Richard Stallman Gives Keynote Address in a Few Hours: Richard Stallman's personal site was updated to give more details
Microsoft Relegated by Manchester United: No Microsoft
IBM Layoffs in 2025: Rumours Say Even Managers Will Get the Axe, Some Via Loopholes Like PIP and/or RTO (Preparations Already Underway): Where does IBM's money go?
FOSDEM Talks Are Vanishing: They no longer seem to be taking money from Microsoft and/or its tentacles
Gemini Links 27/01/2025: Mental Locomotion, Gemini Protocol Bots From China, and Domain-Specific Languages: Links for the day
Microsoft Still Hires Journalists to Reward Them (Belated Payment) for Microsoft Propaganda: The PR/lying pipeline
Over at Tux Machines...: GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, January 26, 2025: IRC logs for Sunday, January 26, 2025
Links 26/01/2025: Privacy Breaches and Growing Nationalism: Links for the day
The UK's Press Gazette Has No Credibility Anymore, It Celebrates Plagiarism and Cheap Misinformation (This Ruins Linux Sites Too): They encourage a form of plagiarism and that even ruins "Linux" sites
Journalistic Malpractice Helps Bill Gates Cover Up His Marriage Collapsing Because of His Very Deep Ties to Jeffrey Epstein (and It's Melinda Who Dumped Him, Divorce Proceedings Started by Her in 2019): you can alter narratives and perceptions worldwide
The Linux Foundation's Certificate Authority (CA) Let's Encrypt Hits New Lows in Geminispace: 13 known capsules still use it
How "Open Source" Became Microsoft (But It's Actually Proprietary, OSI is an Openwashing Front Group Now): They're still trying to rewrite history, but it's harder when Richard Stallman (RMS) is alive
Links 26/01/2025: Chatbot Woes and UnitedHealth Data Breach (Windows TCO): Links for the day
Gemini Links 26/01/2025: The Postman and More: Links for the day
Links 26/01/2025: Fentanylware (TikTok) Turns to Hype/Pyramid Scheme, Insurers Failed to Comply With Federal Law: Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...: GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, January 25, 2025: IRC logs for Saturday, January 25, 2025