Does Novell Tweak Linux Figures to Hide the Bigger Picture?

Dr. Roy Schestowitz

2006-12-06 16:07:59 UTC
Modified: 2006-12-10 05:40:36 UTC

The respectable Matthew Aslett, who is a Linux and Open Source advocate, certainly thinks so.

Dear Novell, please stop messing about with your Linux revenue figures. Thanks.

[...]

How can $13m be 32% more than $15m? What is the difference between “Linux platform products” and “Linux products and services”? I don’t know, but it is high time Novell stopped moving the goal posts and reported consistent figures for its Linux business.

[...]

1Q06 $56m “Open Platform Solutions” (including $43m Open Enterprise Server and $13m "Linux Platform Products and other open source products"

2Q06 $57m “Open Platform Solutions” (including $38m Open Enterprise Server and $10m “Linux Platform Products”

3Q06 $12m “Linux Platform Products”

4Q06 $13m “Linux Platform Products”

This looks pretty grim. In fact, it is also as grim as Microsoft's attempt to hide reality using a $36 billion buyback, which gradually inflates the value of the stock.

Comments

Matthew Aslett

2006-12-07 21:44:49

I should point out that I am a journalist who happens to cover Linux and open source, as opposed to a Linux and open source advocate, but given that's the first time I have ever been called 'respectable' to my knowledge, I will forgive you.
Roy Schestowitz

2006-12-08 04:38:28

Apologies about that, Matthew. I suppose I was getting the wrong impression.

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Does Novell Tweak Linux Figures to Hide the Bigger Picture?

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