Bonum Certa Men Certa

Novell Chooses to Turn from a Leader into a Follower

It was only a couple of days ago that we mentioned a peer's warning that Linux is being subverted. We are not the only people out there who understand why Novell is a danger to Linux and free software. There is a followup that expands on this.

There are better, more robust mail systems out there than exchange. So why is Novell trying so hard to tow to Microsoft with its evolution?

[...]

That was just one example and there are many others. The open source world has many better enterprise ready solutions than Microsoft. You just have to know what those alternatives are. There is no need for Linux to conform to Microsoft. Linux needs to be and set the future of computing. Linux needs to be a leader, not a follower. At the moment, due to Microsoft's manipulations, Linux is turning from a leader to a follower and what is worse. You are letting it!


"It becomes a second-class choice with second-class software..."This is another criticism among many. Novell is bending to the dynamics of things like Silverlight, OOXML, and other Linux-hostile technologies that only enable Microsoft to preserve and extend its grip on industry -- from desktops, to servers, to the Internet. These technologies are Trojan horses. Novell, being the second-hand carrier of these technologies (the "Greek bearing gifts"), is itself an embodiment of the Trojan. It deserves to be treated as such.

As indicated above, Linux does not need Exchange; nor does it require OOXML or Silverlight, which Linux needs to combat rather than submissively embrace, until they are platform-neutral (they are not). Here is a new blog item that demonstrates Linux's strengths.

And - as some commenters on the page there report - syncing calendars with Thunderbird / Google / mobile phone or other devices works flawlessly. The author is using it with his N70 for instance.


It is only one example which does not even take into account Novell's old Exchange alternatives, at least one of which was ditched after its deal with Microsoft. Coincidence? We never thought so.

By taking the Microsoft route, Novell achieves nothing. It becomes a second-class choice with second-class software that is unable to cope with the latest 'extension' Microsoft introduced in its technology. At the end of the day, all it leads to is a migration (back) to Windows.

Those who follow finish last. Don't let Novell turn Linux as a whole into a follower.

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