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Re: Hovsepian: Apps! Apps! Apps!

____/ BearItAll on Monday 13 August 2007 10:12 : \____

> John Bailo, Texeme.Construct wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Novell CEO: Apps Are Job No. 1 for Linux
>> 
>> http://www.cio-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=021001VE8HV3
>> 
>> <<<
>> In order for Linux to grow into the computing mainstream, the open-
>> source OS needs more applications and a standardized approach to
>> software certification, Novell CEO Ron Hovsepian said in his keynote
>> Wednesday at the LinuxWorld conference and trade show in San
>> Francisco.
>> 
>> "The No. 1 thing that we need on Linux is applications," he said.
>> "Whether we like it or not, the application is what drives the final
>> customer decision," he added.
>>>>>
> 
> Ronnie {tap tap gently on shoulder}, do you really think that all of the
> rest of the Linux world sit at our computers doing nothing more than
> playing with the operating system and never actually doing anything with
> applications?
> 
> Please don't twitch Ron, it's very off putting.
> 
> Of course we talk about the platforms on which our applications sit in
> forums, news groups and other places, because without a good platform there
> are no good applications. We have an extraordinarily stable platform on
> which to sit applications that all benefit from the fact that the
> foundation is solid.
> 
> So of course we will talk about the OS. But everyone in here, probably
> within 3 minutes of login in will open one or more applications and get on
> with what ever they want to do.
> 
> There is a part that I suspect you are thinking about, the fact that our
> actual applications are narrowing down. On the surface we seem to have
> become static.
> 
> An example.
> 
> Would it be fair to say that OpenOffice and StarOffice have say 90% of the
> office space of Linux? They used to be more office suites. Is this
> narrowing a good thing? Could be argued both ways,
>         The best of the bunch has reached the top.
>         There is little room for alternatives.
> 
> Except that we are talking about opensource applications. Any clever dick
> can pick up the source and implement a new idea and put it forward for
> inclusion into the standard office or license it commercially as an addon.
> 
> 
> Can I be Gypsy Rose Lee for a moment and make a prediction?
> 
> I say that all computing is currently in a waiting room, we have what we
> have, but we need this certain something that is fast approaching before we
> can have more. We have seen and heard signs of this approaching thing, it
> means a big change, some will miss it, they are in the toilet or haven't
> packed their bags properly, they will miss this thing. Once we are onboard
> then we will be speeding along again, we will see those who weren't ready
> running along the platform in the vein hope that they can some how jump on
> board, but they can't, they should have been ready, but they weren't.
> 
> That is where I believe computing is right now, that train is coming, we
> have all seen signs. Linux is ready, we have our bags properly packed, we
> will be onboard. Vista is in the toilet. XP is not properly packed, it is
> always on the verge of bursting open.
> 
> 
> Provided Linux doesn't do anything stupid then there is no way we can miss
> that train. Stupid things such as, errrrmmmm, well I think that anyone here
> could fill in this part.

The reaction to this news in Groklaw was "who is we?", referring to Ron's
remark that "we" need to unify things. The matter of fact is that many
companies have proven that software can be packaged to be delivered to all the
major distribution without compromising choice. With open source, platform
(e.g. architecture) is not an issue either.

Ron has the Windows mindset. Package once, run everywhere, where everywhere is
YaST/x86/SUSE/whatever. Nice solution, eh? You killed choice. Our way or the
highway...

By the way, I am becoming increasingly worried by the fact that SUSE is turning
into some kind of Lindows or Nindows with all that .NET. I would hate to think
that Novell is building software for Microsoft.

http://boycottnovell.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/nindows.png

-- 
                ~~ Best of wishes

Roy S. Schestowitz      | Minesweeper Consultant and Solitaire Expert (MCSE)
http://Schestowitz.com  |  GNU is Not UNIX  |     PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
      http://iuron.com - proposing a non-profit search engine

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