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Three Takers Named for Microsoft's Linux Support

Posted by Zonk on from the step-right-up dept.

narramissic writes "According to an article on ITworld, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank AG, and AIG Technologies have signed on for Microsoft's technical support for Novell Inc.'s Suse Enterprise Linux. This follows last month's announcement of a deal between Novell and Microsoft that Steve Ballmer described as an effort to 'bridge the divide between open-source and proprietary-source software.' None of the companies cited the price of the support certificates, nor would they say how many they were activating. Even more interesting, Credit Suisse is a brand new cusomter for Novell."

5 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. And so it begins. by GodInHell · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Ballmer: "Buy my service or you're open to liability."

    Customer: "Please don't hurt me."

    Ballmer: "These are some lovely client server apps you have here, it would be a shame if something were to.. happen to them..."

    Customer: "Okay.. okay, I'll pay.... I'll pay" [quiet weeping].

    -GiH

  2. Why? - Credit Suisse in particular by IANAAC · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Since Credit Suisse is a new Novell customer, you'd think that Novell would have tried to sell them their own suppport.


    What am I missing?

  3. Re:Can you imagine? by mandelbr0t · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Working the SuSE helpdesk wouldn't be as bad as you think. #1 call is going to be "I need to share these files from my Linux server to my Windows 2k/XP desktop." Microsoft will be motivated to make this happen (I've had some strange problems with this in the past). They really don't want the helpdesk response to be "Sorry, but Microsoft hasn't released that patch yet." They can blame Samba, sure, but then Microsoft looks stupid for associating with a product they won't stand behind. From an Interoperability standpoint, it seems that Microsoft is playing ball.

    I think the only real problem here was the deliberate attempt to undermine the GPL. In the end, though, the effect is not as bad as we think. GPLv3 plugs the loophole, a Linux vendor gets a ton of cash from Microsoft, and life goes on. I don't like Novell getting in bed with Microsoft, but it's not like they had a whole lot of choice. $400 million is a lot to turn down on the basis of "principles", "morals" or "ethics". The important thing is that the timing of the announcement allowed the GPL to be developed to prevent any further deals of this nature to be made.

    mandelbr0t

    --
    "Please describe the scientific nature of the 'whammy'" - Agent Scully
  4. Blind MS bashing?! Are you kidding?! by Teckla · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's not Microsoft's fault if these companies choose to pay for support they don't actually need.

    What?! Microsoft's CEO basically threatens companies that use Linux, and Microsoft isn't at fault?!

    And I suppose if Guido says, "Bad things might happen to your family, Mr. Anonymous Coward, unless you pay me some 'protection' money...", then it isn't Guido's fault if you pay him for protection you don't actually need???

    And you got modded Insightful! Unbelievable!

    I, for one, am getting pretty tired of people whining that Microsoft gets unfairly bashed here on Slashdot too often. I regularly read plenty of responses that defend Microsoft that get modded +5 Insightful.

  5. Re:and Hubert Mantel rejoins Novell by nadamsieee · · Score: 4, Insightful
    It isn't. They got their thirty pieces of silver.
    They may have gotten paid (short term gain), but Novell has lost their way with the community that feeds them in the process (long term loss).