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

To: Peter Connolly who wrote (24134)	10/31/1998 11:48:00 AM
From: E_K_S	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42771

Thank's Peter - I agree with you that NetObjects Fusion is one of the better building blocks out there for building a very effective e-commerce Web site. I have experimented with it utilizing the FastTrack server. It was a bit difficult to configure as several pieces of the software must be loaded on top of the core OS. If Novell can create an e-commerce software package independent of their Netware product (they may be doing this by investing in the company), it would be a good way to diversify into the e-commerce software area. Once all those cable modems and internet on-ramps are built by AT&T, the average small business customer will be able to connect an e-commerce server (on-line 24 hours a day) to the internet for a very small fixed monthly fee. Novell could build upon this product line by providing services to these e-commerce servers like (1) credit card transaction processing, (2) monitor the status of server devices (i.e. debit card readers, security sensors) and even (3) pre-install (via the network) new Jini/Java enhanced software applications updated and managed by the Novell network. In fact, Novell could disseminate Java and Jini applets on a demand basis and charge based on a per transaction fee. Therefore, more complicated e-commerce transactions could query a Novell library where a specialized JAVA routine could be used to complete the transaction. The end-user does not need to program their server for the most complicated case, but rather have the Novell service take care of it. You see Peter, Novell IMO has focused too much on the enterprise (although this is their core business) and may be missing the much bigger INTERNET PIE that is just begining to emerge. I hope the good Doctor has the vision to see these other opportunities and has a plan to expand into these other Internet "network" markets. This is where the really big growth will come from. I have put most of my Novell money into SUNW as I believe they really have the correct vision and management to implement it. EKS