Bonum Certa Men Certa

Novell: From StopTheFUD to JoinTheFUD

How quickly they forget

Jim Allchin on Novell



A couple of days ago we wrote about Microsoft's new anti-VMware Web site. Based on some followups, it soon emerged that Microsoft had used similar memorable tricks like distribution of insidious material at VMware's own event. Information about this can be found in the comments attached to that previous post. Also worth adding is the following new perspective, which compares these tactics to ones previously used against Novell.



As many of you know, I witnessed firsthand the tactics Microsoft used against Novell during the 1990s when I worked for the once-upon-a-time network operating system leader. I can't tell you how many times I've had déjà-vu experiences while watching Microsoft methodically run the same game plan against VMware's Virtual Center product with Hyper-V and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. Integrations, pricing, and marketing tactics are all repeats of the past.


This vicious attack on VMware is likely to continue [1, 2, 3] and the following article confirms what we saw and stated the last time. Microsoft hardly feels shameful of its use of a girls' school to accomplish business (FUD) objectives. It's not the first such incident as Microsoft did this in Singapore some months ago. Girls' school/s lobbied for OOXML at Microsoft's behest.

The cards also listed the URL for a new Microsoft Web site called www.vmwarecostswaytoomuch.com, which reflects Microsoft's strategy of using price to grab market share from its well-entrenched virtualization market foe. The garishly colored Web site, which was registered on Aug. 27, is being hosted for Microsoft by Seattle-based advertising agency Wexley School For Girls.

[...]

"I also recall Microsoft doing something similar to Novell back in the day, and Novell coming back with something like stopthefud.com," said Ward. "In the end, everybody must look at what is the best solution for their particular situation and make an informed choice on a hypervisor based on actual research, not FUD [fear, uncertainty, and doubt]."


There is again this mentioning of Novell. Ironically and sadly, Novell did not learn its lessons and it's now an integral part of Microsoft's FUD campaign. SJVN wrote an article some weeks ago asking Novell and Microsoft to stop the FUD that they disseminated jointly ("intellectual property peace of mind"). They fought against GNU/Linux that's not SLED or SLES and they still do. It's also difficult to forget the audiocast in which Justin Steinman warned that other distribtuions might not work (interoperate).

John Dragoon is happy enough to continue this marketing technique. He promotes the Microsoft/Novell site in his blog.

Our partnership has been a lot more than talk and press releases. In fact, our joint investment in an interoperability lab has delivered significant innovation in bi-directional virtualization, document compatibility and cross platform systems and identity management. The best, and I believe most interesting, place to discover all this is at our newly refreshed site at moreinterop.com.


They are still selling 'protection', not GNU/Linux.

Also mentioned on Saturday was a scoop about Lenovo and SUSE servers. Here are two newer reports, which happen to be showing what Novell strives to achieve.

All are designed to work with Windows Server 2003 and 2008 in addition to the forthcoming Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Server 2008. Yet on the Linux side, Novell -- the producer of SuSE Linux -- is Lenovo's "preferred provider," Tobul said. Lenovo will also be shipping the ThinkServers with Red Hat's server operating system as well.


They are clearly trying to squeeze Red Hat out. There is another report about it.

The company is launching three tower and two rack x86 servers. ThinkServer TS100 Tower and RS110 Rack and ThinkServer TD100 Tower, TD100x Tower or RD120 Rack come with Microsoft Windows Server or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from Novell, and Intel Core 2 Duo or Xeon processors.


It's all about Novell and Microsoft, which are a pair now. Microsoft is happily using Novell to harm other vendors. In theory, it can later proceed to ruining Novell.

"Our partnership with Microsoft continues to expand."

--Ron Hovsepian, Novell CEO

Comments

Recent Techrights' Posts

Comparing U.E.F.I. to B.I.O.S. (Bloat and Insecurity to K.I.S.S.)
By Sami Tikkanen
New 'Slides' From Stallman Support (stallmansupport.org) Site
"In celebration of RMS's birthday, we've been playing a bit. We extracted some quotes from the various articles, comments, letters, writings, etc. and put them in the form of a slideshow in the home page."
Thailand: GNU/Linux Up to 6% of Desktops/Laptops, According to statCounter
Desktop Operating System Market Share Thailand
António Campinos is Still 'The Fucking President' (in His Own Words) After a Fake 'Election' in 2022 (He Bribed All the Voters to Keep His Seat)
António Campinos and the Administrative Council, whose delegates he clearly bribed with EPO budget in exchange for votes
Adrian von Bidder, homeworking & Debian unexplained deaths
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Sainsbury’s Epic Downtime Seems to be Microsoft's Fault and Might Even Constitute a Data Breach (Legal Liability)
one of Britain's largest groceries (and beyond) chains
 
People Don't Just Kill Themselves (Same for Other Animals)
And recent reports about Boeing whistleblower John Barnett
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, March 18, 2024
IRC logs for Monday, March 18, 2024
Suicide Cluster Cover-up tactics & Debian exposed
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Gemini Links 19/03/2024: A Society That Lost Focus and Abandoning Social Control Media
Links for the day
Matthias Kirschner, FSFE: Plagiarism & Child labour in YH4F
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Linux Foundation Boasting About Being Connected to Bill Gates
Examples of boasting about the association
Alexandre Oliva's Article on Monstering Cults
"I'm told an earlier draft version of this post got published elsewhere. Please consider this IMHO improved version instead."
[Meme] 'Russian' Elections in Munich (Bavaria, Germany)
fake elections
Sainsbury's to Techrights: Yes, Our Web Site Broke Down, But We Cannot Say Which Part or Why
Windows TCO?
Plagiarism: Axel Beckert (ETH Zurich) & Debian Developer list hacking
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Links 18/03/2024: Putin Cements Power
Links for the day
Flashback 2003: Debian has always had a toxic culture
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
[Meme] You Know You're Winning the Argument When...
EPO management starts cursing at everybody (which is what's happening)
Catspaw With Attitude
The posts "they" complain about merely point out the facts about this harassment and doxing
'Clown Computing' Businesses Are Waning and the Same Will Happen to 'G.A.I.' Businesses (the 'Hey Hi' Fame)
decrease in "HEY HI" (AI) hype
Free Software Needs Watchdogs, Too
Gentle lapdogs prevent self-regulation and transparency
Matthias Kirschner, FSFE analogous to identity fraud
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Gemini Links 18/03/2024: LLM Inference and Can We Survive Technology?
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, March 17, 2024
IRC logs for Sunday, March 17, 2024
Links 17/03/2024: Microsoft Windows Shoves Ads Into Third-Party Software, More Countries Explore TikTok Ban
Links for the day
Molly Russell suicide & Debian Frans Pop, Lucy Wayland, social media deaths
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Our Plans for Spring
Later this year we turn 18 and a few months from now our IRC community turns 16
Open Invention Network (OIN) Fails to Explain If Linux is Safe From Microsoft's Software Patent Royalties (Charges)
Keith Bergelt has not replied to queries on this very important matter
RedHat.com, Brought to You by Microsoft Staff
This is totally normal, right?
USPTO Corruption: People Who Don't Use Microsoft Will Be Penalised ~$400 for Each Patent Filing
Not joking!
The Hobbyists of Mozilla, Where the CEO is a Bigger Liability Than All Liabilities Combined
the hobbyist in chief earns much more than colleagues, to say the least; the number quadrupled in a matter of years
Jim Zemlin Says Linux Foundation Should Combat Fraud Together With the Gates Foundation. Maybe They Should Start With Jim's Wife.
There's a class action lawsuit for securities fraud
Not About Linux at All!
nobody bothers with the site anymore; it's marketing, and now even Linux
Links 17/03/2024: Abuses Against Human Rights, Tesla Settlement (and Crash)
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, March 16, 2024
IRC logs for Saturday, March 16, 2024
Under Taliban, GNU/Linux Share Nearly Doubled in Afghanistan, Windows Sank From About 90% to 68.5%
Suffice to say, we're not meaning to imply Taliban is "good"
Debian aggression: woman asked about her profession
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Gemini Links 17/03/2024: Winter Can't Hurt Us Anymore and Playstation Plus
Links for the day