With growing rumours about an Oracle Linux fork and similar suggestions upon the departure of Con Kolivas from kernel development (he focused on more desktop-oriented scheduling), one must stop and wonder. Where is Novell heading? Two years from now, things will have probably changed dramatically.

With serious .NET plans for Novell's Linux, Mono dependencies, and with Window-ised version of OpenOffice.org from Novell, one wonders what will come. Don't you?

Might Novell...

• mimic Windows in the same spirit as Linspire (Lindows)?
• hand over partial control of SUSE to Microsoft?
• bring more Windows applications to Linux?
• lend Linux to Microsoft?
• be used as a mediator/subsidiary for 'Microsoft Linux'?
• become more closely involved with Port 25?
• be sued by Microsoft?
• spearhead an attack on software patents?
• come under assault by patent trolls?
• be acquired by Microsoft?
• carry on with small acquisitions, as Ron Hovsepian projected?
• receive a bankruptcy lifeline from Microsoft and then be forced to serve Microsoft's agenda?
• attempt to escape the relationship with Microsoft?
• reassess or change its Linux strategy, possible seeking alternatives?
• extends it existing relationship with Sun Microsystems (OpenOffice.org being a tight link)?
• lose control over its development community, which will fork OpenSUSE and steal Novell's thunder?

Speculations are fun, but a lot of the above might sound dumb (and possible become regrettable in the future).