I'm wondering, if by placing itself behind Novell, Microsoft isn't making a play to limit the options the 'righteous' people have in their choice of using Linux?
For a moment.... For most intent and purpose (humor me here) there are few differences between distro's, save for installer, window manager, etc., maybe kernel revision. SuSe becomes immune to patent infringement suits. People who have been afraid of adopting Linux because of the threat of suit now have an option, free of litigation, and even more importantly, a promise of support from Microsoft, albiet not directly but through Novell, with regards to Linux / Windows interoperability. Novell gets the benefit of an influx of money from customer support agreements, service calls and indirect restitution for Netware being all but elliminated by Windows (like I asked, humor me).
Microsoft will then get more control over Linux and can influence its utilization.
Now for the punch line: wouldn't it be odd if a few years down the road Microsoft sponsors an open source project much like Apple did with Darwin and it eventually ends up being a future vision of Windows? (Don't tell me I am the only one who was not surprised when Apple announced they were moving to Intel hardware... after open-sourcing Darwin for how many years?)
This was a thought question right?
Kirk (tao muon)