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

To: Joe Antol who wrote (19758)	1/21/1998 9:46:00 PM
From: Paul Fiondella	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42771

It would be nice if someone at Novell placed it on Reno's desk <Novell's director of product marketing, Michael Simpson, said that even Microsoft's second statement is still inaccurate. Microsoft still claims that NDS for NT renders the NT Server non-C2 certified [for security]; when in fact, it never was C2-certified, Simpson said. Simpson said "you can bet the Department of Justice is paying very close attention to this," Now that Microsoft is recanting, customers should feel comfortable deploying the product," he said. At least one analyst agreed with Simpson that "Microsoft tried and failed to pull a scare tactic. They were yet again acting anti-competitive."> ============================ Microsoft just kicked Novell in the teeth. How many customers are going to remember that Novell had pearly whites before it ate the boot? Damage done. Novell does something to NT that MSFT is concerned about. Message --- better stay away from Novell products. Novell ought to deliver a complaint about anti-competitive practices to the DOJ from Mr. Bradford and not rest upon the alleged value of the shame MSFT has received for their scare tactics. Bill Gates hasn't got any shame. The tactics will be repeated. <Neil MacDonald, an analyst at the Gartner Group, added that "issuing such a harshly worded statement was the wrong thing to do if Microsoft's top executives are trying to establish a kinder reputation --that's why they yanked it after hearing the backlash."> Does Novell have the will power it takes to follow up on this with the DOJ? Or will they end up like Trotsky. (He failed to move against Stalin when he had the tactical advantage.)

To: Joe Antol who wrote (19758)	1/21/1998 10:09:00 PM
From: DJBEINO	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42771

Users, analysts decry Microsoft refusal to support Novell NDS Laura DiDio (COMPUTER WORLD) Microsoft Corp.'s decision not to support rival Novell, Inc.'s Novell Directory Services (NDS) is being greeted with disbelief and derision by industry consultants, technical experts and users. Earlier this week, buried in a document posted on its Web site, Microsoft said it "cannot support Windows NT Server running Novell's NDS for NT." NDS for NT, which Novell began shipping on Jan. 5, allows network administrators to manage and monitor all aspects of NT domains and user groups through the NDS directory tree (see story). However, Microsoft claimed that NDS for NT is "not the right long-term choice for Windows NT server customers' deployment and support." Specifically, Microsoft said the following: By replacing critical system Dynamic Link Libraries, NDS for NT makes serious technical changes to Windows NT Server, rendering the system less secure and potentially less reliable. NDS for NT will break the upgrade from NT Server 4.0 to 5.0. NDS for NT doesn't solve interoperability questions. "This is utter and complete nonsense," said David Strom, president of Strom Consulting, Inc. in Port Washington, N.Y. Strom, a technical consultant who specializes in the NT server market, said he has never encountered any problems using or upgrading to NDS for NT in his NT Server test networks. "I believe that 95% of these so-called 'technical issues' that Microsoft claims exist [are] really nothing more than smoke and mirrors to obscure the fact that Microsoft's own Active Directory is nonexistent at this point," Strom said. "The fact is, NDS for NT is a stable, reliable product and much better than anything that Microsoft has right now,'' Strom said. Novell wasted no time in responding to Microsoft's charges, posting a detailed statement debunking the Microsoft claims on its Web site. The company said, "Novell will gladly support the customer, where Microsoft says they will not." Novell also said it has run NDS for NT through "extensive tests" against the BackOffice Suite to ensure interoperability and will aggressively seek BackOffice certification. But according to Novell, getting BackOffice certification comes with a big caveat -- Microsoft has the final word on who gets it.