[PLUG] Novell/SuSE

[John Telford]

The environment and opportunity for making Novell/SuSE a success
couldn’t be better.  

Today’s Novell/SuSE marketing model seems to be along the lines of the
new Red Hat model, but less severe.  Red Hat’s decision to drop the end
users, hackers (the white-hat version), businesses and educational
institutions means these communities are looking for a new home.

Red Hat Linux supported products were readily available free as CDROM
ISO images over the Internet.  Linux communities relied on access
to these images for the latest and greatest Red Hat distributions.  They
learned Red Hat particular quirks and helped develop Linux skills and
experience in the marketplace and within organizations.

Test-driving Novell/SuSE Linux today is difficult at best.  CDROM ISO
images are not available.  The only ways are to download more than 6GB
of files or install directly from an FTP server.  Both methods are
impediments to using Novell/SuSE.  Postings to Novell/SuSE mailing
lists and news groups by disenfranchised Red Hat users are reflecting
this frustration.

Changing the Novell/SuSE marketing model and accommodating the needs
of Linux communities cut off by Red Hat, will go a long ways in
promoting the wide acceptance and use of Novell/SuSE.  Making free
limited-license versions of Nterprise Linux Services available over the
Internet will spur interest, knowledge, and skills using the Novell/SuSE
Linux product stack, for existing Novell customers and for future Novell
Certified Linux Engineers.

The Linux world is most likely ready to embrace Novell/SuSE.  Making
test-driving the product stack as smooth as possible will go along way
in making Novell/SuSE successful.

...John
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John Telford - Owner - JohnTelford.com LLC
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