Novell Takes SUSE Linux and PlateSpin On the Road

The VAR Guy is packing his bags and heading to a Novell event in New York City on April 7. During several hours of briefings, our resident blogger expects to hear plenty about SUSE Linux Enterprise 11, PlateSpin Workload Management and a Mono Extension that allows SUSE Linux to run .Net applications. The obvious question: Will the Empire State embrace Novell’s updated messaging? Plus, here’s the interesting twist that really intrigues our resident blogger.

Most of the event content focuses on Novell-specific technologies and Linux. Yet Microsoft is listed among the event’s premier sponsors. Hmmm. So much for the old conspiracy theory that Novell is a Microsoft puppet.

Say what you want about the Microsoft-Novell relationship, but Novell has found the nerve to give away one HP Mini-Note 2140 netbook — running SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 — during the event.

In Acquisition Mode?

Admittedly, Novell’s most recent financial results didn’t exactly impress Wall Street. And now, a Jefferies analyst is complaining that Novell plans to spend cash on acquisitions rather than investor dividends.

Frankly, The VAR Guy has to side with Novell on that debate. Why pay a dividend to shareholders when Novell can scour the market for potential acquisitions available at discounted prices? Now is exactly the right time for Novell to make low-ball bids to startups that can’t survive on their own.

Ah, but back to the subject at hand: Check back with The VAR Guy on April 7 for a complete report following Novell’s appearance in New York.

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