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Blessed are the Geeks, for they shall internet the earth |
Disappointed in SuSE
William M. Nett
Open SuSE 10.1 was a bust as is their commercial package, SuSE Linux Enterprise
Desktop, or SLED as its more commonly known. Granted the introduction of a
supported Citrix client in SLED is welcomed... but I still can no longer play
MP3s, Videos, DVDs, without performing a ton of workarounds, patches, and
resolving a myriad of package conflicts.
While interviewing the Novell and RedHat folks at the Linux desktop Summit in 2004, I asked both companies why they pulled support for these capabilities? Their reply was that they were "Respecting others' IP rights." Considering that their two major competitors, Microsoft and Apple have historically never really respected the rights of others (albeit Apple has done a far better job in this arena), I called chicken. Slowly but surely I was witnessing the degradation of the Linux community.
Today marks a historical day for me...
after reading the Digg headlines and confirming it, "Bridging the divide...
Microsoft endorses SuSE Linux Enterprise." I will never again purchase a copy of
SuSE Linux. I was awe struck, SuSE had climbed into Microsoft's pocket. How
could they? How many dollars did they spend defending themselves against SCO in
the IP rights battle? Did they forget that SCO was backed by Baystar who was
influenced by Microsoft to the tune of $20 million dollars who was suing Novell?
Some say that this is the prelude to the final nail in SCO's coffin (timing
could not be more perfect), and Microsoft's last ditch effort to keep the reigns
in on Linux just before SCO goes down the toilet, and I remind you to please
consider Microsoft's endeavors with such companies as Real Networks, Firefly,
Orange Tri-band phones, InterVU, etc... all of them except Real Networks has
been assimilated due to lawyers, contracts, and stipulations. If you climb into
their pockets... you'll never get out.
Before I go down on the bow of the the SuSE flagship to Davey Jones' locker, I
am jumping on board Ubuntu as a lowly admin. "Damn the RPM's full dpkg ahead
sir. Ubuntu means humanity to others..."
William M. Nett
