Summary: Novell's new head speaks to Novell customers and characteristically neglects OpenSUSE, which unlike SLE* can be modified easily

Novell will soon be known as AttachMSFT [sic], following the acquisition which will have assets passed and perhaps rebranded. Jeff 'bison slayer' Hawn will replace Ron Hovsepian, who looted Novell while putting it on sale (he got around $20 million or more for his job, all while sacking employees). Novell's new leader, an already-notorious bison slayer (he killed many innocent animals with firearms) has published this open letter where OpenSUSE is not mentioned even once, despite promises which were made beforehand in order to calm the community down.

Attachmate is committed to delivering quality products, providing exceptional customer service, and being easy to do business with. We are excited about the opportunity to make these same commitments to Novell customers after closing. To ensure that we do so, Attachmate will support the existing roadmaps and release schedules for products across the Novell and SUSE portfolios.

It says nothing about OpenSUSE, which could be an early sign of what people close to SUSE choose to deny, calling it "OpenSUSE FUD". To quote:

I am really sick and tired of people spreading FUD on the future of openSUSE and SUSE Linux in light of the Attachmate/Novell merger.

Point One - Attachmate is not Oracle and openSUSE is not OpenSolaris. Point Two - Jeff Hawn, CEO of Attachmate has already said that SUSE and openSUSE are important components of the merger and will remain. Point Three - Goto Point One

The SD Times compares Sun to Novell (typical comparison) and "Oracle’s Solaris take-over" is aligned with "SUSE angst" in this other new article that says:

2: SUSE Linux users nervous as Novell explores options In late May, Novell Inc., apparently put itself on the block two months after an unsolicited -- and unwelcome -- $2 billion buyout bit by Elliott Partners. The company, which made its name on NetWare, joined the Linux fray with its purchase of SUSE. Novell SUSE Linux struggled against Red Hat Linux in big accounts, but retained a devoted base of users who now worried about what Novell's plans meant for their favorite Linux distribution.

The OpenSUSE volunteers keep releasing news even though there is next to none except for technical posts and the occasional old news from Novell staff like Jos Poortvliet. He goes back to writing about the OpenSUSE conference:

At the openSUSE conference almost two months ago a special Educational track on Saturday featured talks about the progress on openSUSE Edu-L.i.f.e, the applications it ships and many other educational topics. The goal of the openSUSE Edu team is to cater for students, educators as well as parents and the software they develop, package and ship has everything required to make computers productive for either home or school usage.

Regarding a story which we mentioned some days ago Sam Dean writes: [via LWN]

We've covered Novell's SUSE Appliance Program, which encompasses SUSE Studio before, and now the "roll-your-own-Linux" efforts behind the program are coming to fruition. Novell has announced the winners of its first annual 'Dister' awards, which celebrate "innovators and inventors" who use SUSE Studio to build creative SUSE Linux-based software offerings. Novell is handing out two $10,000 grand prizes to two companies: Radical Breeze and Anderware. Here is what they built, and how open source-focused incentive programs like this can really succeed.

This is not exactly OpenSUSE and that's what Novell is willing to speak about in press releases. There is still no long-term commitment to OpenSUSE, which gives reason to fork and escape the trademark now owned by AttachMSFT [sic], not to mention that it's tainted by the patent deal (expires within a year). The light green is not trademarked, so the escape route seems approachable. ⬆