Big news for my fellow Novell mavens out there! ("We few, we happy
few.")
 
I'm afraid we're gonna have to stop hating Microsoft.  Our guys talked
to their guys and look what happened:  you'll be able to run SUSE Linux
on Windows, or Windows on SUSE Linux.  Why in the hell you would want to
bother doing that, I don't know, but it makes great press for Novell. 
And for us Novell loyalists it means no more getting silicon kicked in
our faces by MS bullies.  We're running with the big dogs now.   I need
to get myself some Microsoft logo clothing right away (though I'll
probably limit it to underwear until I see if this really pans out). 

Hmmm.  I wonder if the news of Larry Ellison getting his hooks into Red
Hat had something to do with this.  Nahh!  Just a coincidence.

I know you'll want to read the entire personal message sent directly to
me by Ron Hovsepian, Novell's CEO, so I'm including it below.  Read and
rejoice.  "Oh brave new world!"

Vince

===========================================

Today, Microsoft and Novell announced an historic new initiative.
Important primarily because it means a lot to the communities we serve.
Most notably, our customers. 
Let me begin by quickly outlining what we just announced. Microsoft and
Novell, starting today, have agreed to build and market solutions so
that Novell's technology works on Microsoft and vice versa.
Specifically, customers will now be able to run virtualized SUSE Linux
Enterprise on Windows or Windows on SUSE Linux Enterprise. This landmark
agreement also calls for both Microsoft and Novell to provide patent
coverage to each others' customers for our respective products. Why is
that important? It's important because you shouldn't have to spend a lot
of time worrying about legal matters around which operating system to
choose. You also shouldn't have to worry about barriers such as
intellectual property agreements, who owns which patent portfolio, and
indemnification. None of those issues move your business forward. Now
many of those barriers have been removed.
I am also proud that earlier today Novell and Microsoft demonstrated,
by our words and actions, that we can work together for the mutual
benefit of our customers. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's CEO, was very
passionate and genuine in his support for this agreement. He spoke about
how it will help our customers leverage both the Microsoft Windows
platform as well as our SUSE Linux Enterprise platform. He mentioned how
it will give customers like you choice and flexibility in building their
technology environment. Choice and flexibility, something our customers
often complain are in short supply. We're determined to change that.
I'd like to build on what Steve said, and today I had the opportunity
to make some of these points in person to the assembled press, analysts
and industry experts. This agreement between us and Microsoft is a key
cornerstone to our overall Novell promise to deliver the open enterprise
to you, our customers. One where we can leverage a mixed environment-
with open source and open standards based software- on your behalf. It's
an agreement that will accelerate Novell's stated goal of helping you
reduce cost, manage complexity and mitigate risk. 
I titled this a "landmark" announcement, and I truly believe it is.
Transformational in its scope and important to us and our customers on a
number of levels. You may wonder how this changes our relationship with
Microsoft. It's no secret we've competed with them in the past. And we
still will. However, it's also important for us all to remind ourselves
that all organizations, particularly in our industry, need to adapt and
change. Further, for whatever differences we've had with Microsoft over
the years, we actually share a number of the same values. A strong
belief in building customer solutions, and an unwavering belief in the
power of technology and innovation. And now, with this announcement, the
ability for you to deploy the applications you want on the operating
system of your choice for a total solution. All in a way that best fits
your business needs.
This is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for Novell. We know
you want technology that features interoperability, choice, flexibility,
and sustainability. We know you like to see your vendors working
together on YOUR behalf. In fact, that is what this Microsoft/Novell
agreement is all about. Working together to do a better job for you.
I'm truly excited about this transformational announcement. The payoff
will be better results where it counts most. On helping you grow and
innovate, and in turn delivering on your promise to the communities you
serve.
Best regards
Ron Hovsepian
CEO, Novell