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Technology Stocks : Novell (NOVL) dirt cheap, good buy? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jack Whitley who wrote (28830)	11/8/1999 2:25:00 AM
From: Scott C. Lemon	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 42771

Hello Jack, I'm disappointed by the response ... so instead of addressing the issues, and even taking a shot at answering questions, you decide to attack at me personally? How lame ... > For consumer software, we don't see much yet, but who wants to > write Java for Windows anyway if the API is not open, or develop > with MSFTs bastardized version. Ah ... please don't show lackof knowledge of Java ... I have several applications (one of which we are completing now) that are 100% Java ... on Windows. I would love to hear of one "API that is not open" or what would force you to use Microsoft tools ... these are lame excuses. > I think Visual Cafe 3.0 has been well received, I am SURE that a > very large money center bank in my area has 68, yes 68 open reqs > for Java developers. As for Visual Cafe, it sucks. We've tried to use it numerous times, but it's far to unstable ... constant crashes. ;-) As for 68 developers ... so what metric are you proving with this point? Does this mean 68 new Java projects? Or 68 people to write one app? > It's doing quite well. SuperNOS? It was never delivered! It never arrived ... it was all vaporware ... > HTTP and bundled WebSphere are not far away!! ;-) I won't touch this one ... > By the way, you have really changed your spots from just a short > while ago when you were with Novell. Not at all! I'm simply pointing out that all companies seem to do the same thing. I have no problems with much of what Novell is doing in some key areas ... but are you trying to state that they have made no errors in the past? I am more than willing to acknowledge that fact ... > Is it animosity toward a former employer, or is it because you are > now making a living developing to the Win 32 API, which you so > heavily criticized when you were a Novell employee? One thing that people (who know me) understand is that I speak my mind, and what I believe. I seldom pull punches ... this is one thing that many people at Novell couldn't handle. I am still a strong supporter of Novell, and hope the best for all of the employees and shareholders. (I am still a NOVL shareholder and it's a huge part of the portfolio) I also know that I perceive a lack of vision, and an understanding of the importance of vision within the organization. I'm frustrated that even after my departure, I continue to hear feedback from employees about the poor management of people and ideas. I'm frustrated by the departure of key employees (not upper management) that seems to continue. But I always am one who thinks that the game can still be won! There's a pony in there somewhere ... As for your suggestion that I have criticized the Win32 API, I'm hoping that you can point me to a post so that I can clarify my writing. I have always written a variety of different types of software ... currently I'm working on several Windows applications, but several are tied to NetWare due to the use of Novell's ActiveX components, and use of NDS. I'm also working on a number of Novell NetBasic web server applications ... and learning more about the Enterprise Server on NetWare. > I am not asking this sarcastically, its just an amazing change of > heart. Is it the honesty that surprises you? > What value has MSFT really added to the basic PC instruction set > that any developer couldn't add (and improve) in a week if allowed > the Windows API? I guess that per your comments about what I have, and haven't, done ... I'd have to say that you've never really looked at the issues involved in architecting a protected-mode operating system on an evolving processor architecture? You've never had to figure out how to try and remain compatible with a whole slew of legacy applications, while evolving the functionality to try and improve features, stability, security, and then also follow the customers requests for other things that you didn't even think of? Then, on top of this, you have to create a properly abstracted development environment which covers all the core services that applications want access to ... And you suggest that "any developer" could do these things in a week? Wow ... I might have to quote you "What a pathetic joke." ... But I guess that I'm wrong, and we're about to see a magical turn-around in the computer industry! Perfect and Bug Free Software! Gosh, it's going to be so beautiful! ;-) > Microsoft is not the "fittest" company in either an absolute OR > relative sense. They haven't "survived" the best, they have been > propped up at our expense. We have survived them, but at what cost? Half-full ... half-empty ... > Another amazing statement from the not-so-long departed Novell > employee. Do you want honesty? > You posted here once that one of the fundamental flaws in NT Server > as a web development platform and conduit to the Internet is that > it would only pump data at 450 mbps vs. Novell's 1 gig, and that > this would not be overcome in Windows 2000. So again, please point me at the posts so that I can clarify any misunderstandings ... I'm not sure that I have ever commented on the MS Web Development Platform. As for the tests that were done on performance? Yes, NetWare smokes them. Now for the harsh reality and honesty ... If Microsoft decides that they want screaming performance, do I think that they could rewite the lower parts of their IP stack to provide higher-levels of throughput? Yep ... I do. > When do you expect that MSFT will get HotMail live on NT? I'm not sure. I haven't looked into this area, and don't have any real ties into the people working on HotMail. I guess that it would take a thorough analysis of Microsoft's intentions with HotMail. My understanding of the problems that occurred would lead me to believe that some people caught a lot of crap, and Microsoft doesn't seem to be a company that lets things like this slide. > Will that happen with Windows 2000? If it doesn't, where > does that leave them as a really robust web development platform, ... but people seem to be using their products already! And so for a large number of people, they are already robust enough ... > where will their earnings come from if they don't get the PC tax > anymore? Ahhh ... now this is a more interesting question ... so to your analogy to AT&T ... where did their revenue come from? > You are impressive in your posts that reference your knowledge as a > software architect, but your strategic thinking and arguments > regarding Microsoft are weak. ... as are yours ... although your deflections and redirects are often fun! ;-) > jww Scott C. Lemon