[ale] Novell answers my questions

[Michael D. Hirsch]

I sent a Novell rep some questions about their plans for the future.  I really 
like these answers.  I also really like that they wanted to give them.  
Sounds to me like Novell is really reaching out to the community and 
embracing Open Source.  Look at how they've recently released lots of their 
code under the GPL (including Evolution Connector!).  I think they have truly 
drunk the Kool-Aid

My contact is "Greg Haney" <GHaney AT novell.com>, and he volunteered to 
answer other questions for us.  Try not to flood his mailbox.  Perhaps we 
should colect some more questions instead of all firing them out to him all 
at once.

--Michael


Michael,

Here's the answers to your questions.  Let me know if this is of help. 
Also, if you would like you can forward my contact information to the
group and I will get answers to their questions as well.  If I get a lot
of questions I will put together a SuSE FAQ that maybe helpful to the
group.

Thanks!



How does Novell plan to balance the needs to make a buck with the need
to participate in the Open Source Community? 
 
*** Novell has fully embraced the Open Source Community and has stated
this position openly and publically. This is evident by what Novell has
already given back to OSS including just recently YaST and iFolder
development framework.  We believe that our ability to generate revenue
will come from value added services above the stack such as Red Carpet
Enterprise, NLS, etc.

What is Novells stance on Open Source? 
 
*** See previous response

Will SuSE and Ximian stay separate, or become part of a greater whole?



*** Ximian has for the most part already been folded into the Novell
portfolio. Since the products we gained from the aquisition fit into our
strategy so well, it was quite easy to pull off. Now on the other hand,
there is no indication that the SUSE brand will go away and I do not
believe it will. SUSE has solid global brand awareness across consumers,
IHV's and partners.

Will SuSE still actively support KDE, as it has in the past, now that
Manuel De Icaza is on the payroll? 

*** We will continue to provide development on the KDE interface going
forward but the Novell Linux Desktop which will be a compilation of
Ximian XD2, SuSE Desktop and SuSE 9.1 Professional will be based upon
Gnome as a default. KDE will be an optional install component if the
client prefers to use it.

Does Novell see the Linux desktop as a market and what is it doing to
conquer it?

*** Novell absolutely sees the Linux Desktop market gaining momentum

and we are agressively moving to play in this space. See the above
response.