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

To: fb who wrote (34445)	10/25/2000 10:01:02 AM
From: PJ Strifas	Respond to of 42771

fb, not a problem - perhaps I should have added the usual editorial with my posting :) Not to harp on the Off Topic material too much, here's an interesting article to read. The reason I find it interesting is that Novell has been very active in authentication schemes and integrating new technologies into eDirectory. I'm talking about fingerprint scanners, voice-recognition and even face recognition. This article explains the next "logical" step in that evolution. foxnews.com Something about implanting a silicon chip and being able to track people and authenticate people. Of course, this technology is developed with good intentions and of course, there can be abuses of this technology. It depends on your perspective I suppose but it does make for some interesting future developments! For instance: 1) Used in conjunction with "house detention/arrest" - instead of an ankle bracelet currently used (which can be limited), this can allow "detainees" to have limited outside access (such as going to work or school only) while being monitored. 2) In scientific research: tagging and documentation type stuff which they already track fairly well. 3) Tracking VIP-type people like the President or VP or others. 4) For medical cases - especially good to monitor vital stats on people with illnesses. Could even make for better studies which will pay off in future dividends for all of us. But more to the point is that tracking is merely one aspect of what this technology can do. If it were to be used for authentication as well....now that becomes interesting! I log onto my network with my usual UserID and Password and this embedded chip (subdermal?) also sends a signal to a receiver and authenticates me as well. Let's say it's almost as good as a digital fingerprint! Only that we don't need scanners installed EVERYWHERE. Heck, I can see it know - walking to the door of my office and this chip sends a signal, authenticates me and the door whisks open just as I arrive :) [Perhaps I should go back to writing short stories again] Of course you can look at this and say why not just barcode my butt and move on from there.......(awfully big barcode if you ask me)! Regards, Peter J Strifas

To: fb who wrote (34445)	10/25/2000 12:04:24 PM
From: PJ Strifas	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42771

Here are some survey results on the "state of Novell" within the marketplace... check out: techrepublic.com [Percentages are drawn from the number of respondents - unfortunately they didn't post how many people responded to each question] 1) Which of the following Novell products does your organization use? NDS = 35% Netware = 45% Groupwise = 20% 2) Which of the following best describes how you are using NetWare in your organization? - Use NetWare in some departments or locations but are standardizing on Linux or UNIX for our main NOS = 3% - Use NetWare in some departments or locations but are standardizing on WindowsNT/2000 = 11% - Use NetWare for File and Print sharing in conjunction with WindowsNT/2000 = 32% - Don't use NetWare = 2% - Use NetWare as our main NOS and DO NOT PLAN TO CHANGE = 52% Comment: From the results, the respondents are firmly entrenched with Novell - over 50%. A 3rd of them are using NetWare for what it does best - file & print sharing while adding WindowsNT/2000 for applications (probably). A conclusion to draw here is that NetWare is still very much alive and kicking so it's Novell's marketshare to lose. 3) Which of the following best describes how you are going to use Directory Services software in your organization? - We aren't looking at DS software at this time = 13% - Still trying to decide between NDS and AD = 16% - Already decided on a different metadirectory product = 1% - Already using Active Directory = 8% - Already decided on NDS = 62% Comment: The wide margin between NDS and AD is a healthy one but the more important number is the 16% that is still sitting on the fence and the 13% who have not gotten the DS message. When you add those up (29%), it can make a huge "swing" for MSFT if they can convert them into AD users. Again, if Novell were to target these "undecided" organizations - it can only mean more business. 4) Where you aware of Novell's latest round of financial difficulties and layoffs? - YES = 80% - NO = 20% Comment: This is good - bad news is out and people are still optimistic. This should in no way be a comfort to Novell IMO instead it should be viewed a some "breathing space". Novell needs to get back to good financial news quickly. 5) With what you know about Novell's financial results, which of the following best describes how your organization's purchasing decisions will be changed by the news? - Novell is still profitable and we won't change our thinking = 16% - We'll have to seriously reconsider any future Novell purchases in light of their continuing struggles = 12% - We're already concerned about Novell's ability to stay competitive and this adds to our concerns = 33% - While we won't discount it entirely, the news won't have a major effect on our thinking = 39% Comment: From the results, 55% of the respondents are still well within "Novell's loyal base of customers". This is comforting news if that was what you were looking for. In any sense, it is a base of support that Novell can "lean on". Bad news is that 45% of the respondents may be changing purchasing decisions or entirely discounting Novell products in future decisions because of their current financial state. This means Novell is losing future business right here, right now. That should be troubling someone in Provo! I see it as more bad than good since this sampling shows Novell "losing out" on 45% of the respondents outright because of their financial position and not because of any reasons based on technology and/or solutions. Again, based on these results, one can draw many conclusions. It can depend on what one is looking for I suppose :) Regards, Peter J Strifas