Novell rejoins desktop fight, with Linux as ally
Looking to tap into discontent with Microsoft, Novell is set to deliver this week a package of Linux-based software for the PC that includes Office-like productivity applications, along with e-mail and Web browsing programs.
The company is expected to announce on Monday that Novell Linux Desktop 9 will be available Thursday. The release represents the combination of a number of desktop-related products that Novell gained through its acquisition of SuSE Linux and Ximian in 2003.
Novell will charge $50 per person for an "entitlement" to use the software, a deal that includes one year of updates and bug fixes. The company will charge $18 per desktop per year for its ZenWorks desktop management software, which can manage both Linux and Windows PCs. Support services, which cover both Novell's open-source and proprietary software, are paid on top of the software acquisition cost.
The Linux Desktop 9 package includes the SuSE Linux operating system; Novell's version of the OpenOffice productivity suite; the Novell Evolution e-mail and calendaring software; and the FireFox Mozilla Web browser. The package will give customers the choice of using the Gnome or KDE user interface software, and it will include the Mono development tools for building Linux applications.
