[oclug] RH misgivings

[Brian Barber]

I was in on the conference call.  Very interesting developments, indeed.  Should make for an exciting morning tomorrow at Novell's Linux Road Show stop at the Chateau Laurier.  I'll be there.

BB

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Herrnberger <chris123 at magma.ca>
To: oclug at lists.oclug.on.ca, Jon Earle <je_oclug at kronos.honk.org>
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 12:57:03 -0500
Subject: Re: [oclug] RH misgivings

On Tuesday 04 November 2003 12:23, Jon Earle wrote:

> I really like Linux (hence, I do not wish to start a war by making these
> statements), but it does need to mature some more.  I know some folks here
> will disagree with me, and that's fine - Linux as it exists now fulfills
> their needs.  However, I, like many others, expect more from our (home) OS
> and Linux is definitely lagging in those areas.  What can I say, I like my
> features!  (It would be cool to hear the guys sneaking up behind me in
> Enemy Territory!)
>
> Corporate-wise however, is a different matter.  X, Openoffice and a
> browser are sufficient.  The rest can be custom built or run with an
> emulator.

I have no arguement with your observations or analysis, some of which I agree 
and disagree with. That is not this issue for me at present Jon, rather, I 
would expect based on this statement from RH, that they would then withdraw 
there desktop versions (which they have in part) to save operational and 
development costs and focus spefically on the entrprise server space. I mean 
the head honcho seems to think its a no go....right?

It puzzles me that they would make this announcement today, while at the same 
time in conference with Novel (anyone had access to the telecon from 
novel.com) IBM/Novel/SuSE/Ximian commited too the Enterprise desktop and in 
fact the entire stack based on both product lines (linux and novel) delivered 
by Novel's extensive international channel and partners. Furthermore, while 
Novel has been agnostic on distro support for the Novel product line, they 
are obviousely now determined to support SuSE nationally and internationally, 
and with the support of IBM, ahead of RH which will remain supported but not 
as primary partner. 

All this announced on the same day. Hmmm as nothing happens in a vacuum, in 
fact the SuSE-Novel dance took some nine months of negotiations to consumate, 
the timing and location of RH's sentiments,. (Austral Asia is a bastion for 
OSS and RH in particular) is not by accident and not co-incidental. 
Particularily, if your review Novel's enterprise desktop offerings. 

As accurate as the assessment may be by RH and as inconsistant as it may be 
with current offerings..its intend may be motivated otherwise. And this is 
disappointing if it is. This is really my concern. All the economical and 
financial analysis aside, the corduality, uniformity of mission and presence 
by the leading players seems now to have evaporated. While it is expected, 
the changing of a page as it closes a chapter can either be disappointing or 
inviting.  Each chooses the path they must follow. Sometimes voluntarily and 
sometimes determined by destiny. Freedom of choice is really a misnomer as 
the path you choose is generally determined by precusors that you have put in 
play much earlier. 

/ch


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