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

To: Don Earl who wrote (19752)	1/21/1998 5:04:00 PM
From: vinod Khurana	Respond to of 42771

January 19, 1998 1:04 PM - MICROSOFT SAID TO END SUPPORT FOR NT PRODUCT MADE BY RIVAL NOVELL NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Microsoft Corp. reportedly plans to halt technical-support services for users of its Windows NT operating-system software who also install rival Novell Inc.'s Directory Services for NT product. Novell's Directory product, seen as a key to Novell's turnaround efforts, gives network users access to files on one or multiple server computers. InfoWorld magazine, citing a release on Microsoft's Internet site, Monday reported that Microsoft made the decision for technical reasons. Microsoft (MSFT) argues that Novell's Directory product replaces "critical" Windows NT DLL, or dynamic link libraries. DLLs are chunks of software code that allow other segments to be loaded and linked. According to InfoWorld, Novell (NOVL) disputes Microsoft's claim and said its product replaces only a single DLL, not two, and isn't associated with NT authentication or security functions. InfoWorld quoted a Novell official as saying Microsoft's intentions are more competitive than technical. "Microsoft has gotten nervous at the success of NDS for NT and their fear has grown bigger than their concern for their customers," the offical said. Orem, Utah-based Novell has long been the largest supplier of operating systems used to manage networks of personal computers. But Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft has mounted a long-term attack on the smaller company's business, using the Windows NT system which can handle networking functions and other chores. And Novell faces a perception problem, that it is late in using standard communications technologies for its flagship NetWare product line. Novell chief executive officer Eric Schmidt has said the company's next-generation product, code-named "Mohab," and directory services will reignite revenue growth. Novell's directory product tracks network users running on operating systems like Unix, NetWare, those designed for mainframes and Windows NT. Microsoft is working on providing such directory services for Windows NT, but they only support NT users. By supporting medium- to large-sized corporations with tens of thousands of computer users using a variety of operating systems, the Novell product is seen by some as having an advantage over Microsoft's offering. In the small to midsize business market, NetWare has been hurt badly by Windows NT. But NetWare still has a strong presence in large companies because of it can handle larger amounts of users and a more mixed computing environment than NT. Microsoft has been rapidly extending its hegemony over the PC industry into the vast market for network computing. Windows NT, which runs the servers that host computer networks, and its suite of server applications are increasingly becoming Microsoft's most important growth engine. Windows NT is key to Microsoft's plan to wrest more growth and market share from a host of rivals. Microsoft is seeking to replicate its strategy for success on the desktop, where it first established Windows as the dominant operating system and then captured the bulk of the market for the application software that runs on Windows, such as the word processors and spreadsheets now grouped in Office. Microsoft plans to leverage NT's spreading dominance of corporate networks to propel sales of its network applications. Copyright (c) 1998 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

To: Don Earl who wrote (19752)	1/21/1998 5:10:00 PM
From: vinod Khurana	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42771

No Don, I did not receive anything. At this point, I am not sure I care anymore except that it would have been "nice" to evaluate and understand the new features. I'm moving on to SAP, Unix and Windows NT. Thats where the future is. NetWare is just another legacy system in my opinion. It's great as a general purpose file/print operating system but the momentum to drive it is just not there. Look at Legato and MSFT both of which reported record earnings today. Look at other developers for NetWare platforms and you will see all them in the red. Applications drives the platform users will implement. Its either UNIX or Windows NT. NetWare is....history and thats the bottome line. The earlier investors accept it, the better off they will be long term. V.K