Microsoft supports Linux via Novell; Satan phones Gates regarding temperature

It's not exactly official just yet, but the latest word from "people familiar with the companies" being printed up by The Wall Street Journal is sensational enough to run even if we overheard a couple of bums whispering about it on the street. Apparently Microsoft has reached an agreement with Novell, wherein Microsoft will provide sales support to Novell's SUSE Linux operating system. We kid you not. The two lovebirds have also agreed to develop technologies to make dual-boot systems easier to operate, and Microsoft has promised not to assert patent rights over software technology that might show up in SUSE. Quite an interesting development, given Microsoft's heretofore complete disgust for anything Linux related, and made even more miraculous in light of the specifically bad blood between these two companies -- remember that $536 million antitrust settlement a couple years back? Either Microsoft is starting to feel the Linux heat, or they decided "stop asserting their patent rights" to get themselves out of any more antitrust trouble. Or maybe, just maybe, Microsoft and Novell just want to get along for the kids. Steve Ballmer is expected to make the official announcement of this hell-freezing agreement in San Francisco this afternoon.

[Brandon @ Nov 2nd 2006 7:01PM]

I for one...nevermind...

This should be interesting, Microsoft seems to be playing the good guy recently.

Maybe I should buy a Zune.

[narco @ Nov 2nd 2006 7:06PM]

Best title ever.

[Gerard Boyers @ Nov 2nd 2006 7:15PM]

It has already been made official:

http://www.vistasector.com/news/178/microsoft-linux-pact/

[guilt+1 @ Nov 2nd 2006 7:47PM]

WTF. and just to further express my disbelief WTF again. What's the angle here. What does MS get beyond a slight reprieve from antitrust cases. This has totally shifted my world view. I feel lost and confused.

I need to go lie down. Or perhaps just rock back and forth in the corner for a while.

[Ted B @ Nov 2nd 2006 7:52PM]

I guess this means only Mac fans will cry Micro$oft in the comments section now.

I'll save you guys the trouble: The little red negative button is right next to me post. See, >>>>>. Click on that and it will give you ePenis points.

[Giltronic @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:54PM]

anyone who uses windows should cry about microsoft.

[Edward K. @ Nov 2nd 2006 8:27PM]

uhhh....

ummmm...

*halt stop ponder*

uhhh.....

[Rick @ Nov 2nd 2006 8:38PM]

This is a countermove against Apple. Bolster an "open source" third party to compete with the up-and-comer. The question is- why them? Probably because they feel they can control them.

The games are really getting started!

[keith waddington @ Nov 2nd 2006 8:41PM]

we play with linux so you can put us on your systems too.

its just about making more sales. what do you expect? this is business. I'd say playing with MS can turn into a dangerous game.

waddo

[theChad @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:28PM]

Their old business plan basically made everything only work with windows, thereby spreading windows. Maybe they see that's not working very well and are starting to develop for all markets.

[Carl @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:01PM]

The press release stresses "interoperability." Which in Redmond-ese means "supports our DRM."

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/nov06/11-02MSNovellPR.mspx

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:40PM]

If you can't beat em, buy out the support and make people pay for it.

[Graham @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:11PM]

yea, it is kinda odd, Also, why did they help with the latest version of firefox? What are they tring to do? make the open source community like them?

[theChad @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:28PM]

This just blows my mind. What would really make MS king of all is if they start developing software for linux, kind of like they do for the Mac. No offense to OOo, but they'd be pretty close to screwed if Office came out for linux.

[Whynot @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:28PM]

Can somebody help me? I think I kinda stepped into a parallel universe by mistake, I just read something about Microsoft acknowledging the existence of Linux or something like that... OMG!! There's a pig flying outside my window!!! :P :P :P

Next thing we know, the Zune will read OGG files, will be iTunes compatible and will connect to Limewire via WIFI...

[aStopperBy @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:32PM]

Or maybe it could be that the great philanothropist realizes that it will be best for humankind if MS lost some marketshare
(http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technology/8402e1010a0dd010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd/2.html)
(After he retires, that is)

[mtgarden @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:35PM]

Well, from having used SLED 10 at work with XP Pro in a VM, I think that Microsoft should be scared. I haven't heard too many people excited about Vista's draconian licensing lately. With SLED 10 looking as good as it does, it might pay for Microsoft to make nice.

Of course, if Microsoft made Office for Linux, then they can just throw in the towel for corporate sales of Vista. Corps will just by SuSE and add office.... I would and wouldn't think twice about it. SLED 10 is just plain nice.

[Gaurang @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:43PM]

is Novell linux (????? ) has any Blue screen...no !!!!, it will have one soon .....

Anyway, is today April 1st ??

[Ted Brown @ Nov 2nd 2006 9:55PM]

Hahahaha. I get it... because Windows crashes a lot, right?

[Lou @ Nov 2nd 2006 10:20PM]

I think I just burst a blood vessel in my brain.

[uNext @ Nov 2nd 2006 10:35PM]

Wow this is amazing news i just cant believe microsoft is joining shackles with novell wow...this is a shocker
go micro go...im starting to like microsoft again-you can definetly tell they are revamping their whole structure
once they have full domination and power back to the old microsoft so enjoy them now and hate them later.

[GL @ Nov 2nd 2006 10:58PM]

mtgarden, you pretty much got it right about the loss of corporate sales if MS sold Office for Suse.

As a Linux user. I'd welcome Office on Linux. But get this. It wouldn't sell as well as MS would like. Nor would it benefit them enough for one reason: LOSS of WINDOWS SALES!

Remember kiddies. Microsoft doesn't want to become "just a software company." They want Windows (Vista) to be THE center of the universe. If it's not tied to WIndows in someway. MS loses out. The key point is that Linux doesn't need Office. But Microsoft needs to NOT have their customers pissed off at them for trying to lock-out Linux interoperability.

By the way folks. Did you know that Microsoft Services for UNIX is free? Yep. MS used to charge for mounting an NFS filesystem to UNIX/Linux. Not anymore. Why did they do this?

Well, becaues paying for "mount -a" kind of silly don't ya think?

Power to the People!

[nicholas @ Nov 3rd 2006 4:11AM]

this is a ploy to dilute open source licensing.

[Snesgirl @ Nov 3rd 2006 4:30AM]

Eeeeeeenteresting.....,

I wonder if they are preparing the ZUNE so the Linux Haxxor's can have a shot at it, with SUPPORTED software.

'Interesting times' indeed. Oh and the post title? Best so far this year !

[captj @ Nov 5th 2006 9:22PM]

SuSE Novell 1st then ....

MS-Linux with NTFS write permissions ?? this will be interesting..

[Tuna @ Nov 3rd 2006 9:17AM]

News aside, title really made me laugh. :D

[telepheedian @ Nov 3rd 2006 9:30AM]

At least they got SuSe, which already stinks, instead of going straight for ubuntu.


I still don't like microsoft, and I do use linux quite a bit. (No macs though.)

[sandossu @ Nov 3rd 2006 11:05AM]

This is really interesting, Microsoft supporting an opponent. It may be a tricky move

http://latestphones.info

[James @ Nov 3rd 2006 9:51PM]

Don't you see the implicit threat? MS won't pursue litigation about (alleged) MS IP in Suse... i.e. every OTHER Linux distro had better be ready to be SCO-ed into bankruptcy, thus getting rid of all but one head of what MS sees as a dangerous hydra.

MS has always stabbed its alleged partners in the back, without exception, and Novell had better worry.

[andy @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:33PM]

Could they be wanting to port the Vista GUI to Linux?

That's the big new feature of Vista, so maybe they're looking to license it out on other platforms to be sure that everyone uses the MS interface instead of MAC or some third party interface.

Just a thought.

[Cryonaka @ Mar 15th 2007 12:42PM]

In August 2006, Microsoft offered to help Mozilla integrate Firefox with the forthcoming Windows Vista, which Mozilla accepted

In October 2006, as congratulations for a successful ship of Firefox 2, the Internet Explorer 7 development team shipped a cake to Mozilla.
___________
seems they like to support lots of other open-source things