ZDNet: Novell: Microsoft ´sucked $60 billion´ out of IT

September 14 2004

...CEO Jack Messman told customers and partners that Microsoft's extensive license fees for Windows have prevented end-user organizations and independent software developers from directing cash into more "innovative" software.
"I am of the opinion that innovation has been slowed because of Microsoft. It has sucked $60 billion out of our industry that could have been used for innovation," he said.
An even more gutsy comment followed:
"With a 94 percent market share, we are not going to abandon Windows--that would be foolhardy. But we do think the market will abandon Windows at some point. We will maintain a commitment to the Windows environment for as long as customers want us to," said Alan Nugent, Novell's chief technology officer.
Link: ZDNet: Novell: Microsoft 'sucked $60 billion' out of IT >

Ed Brill Highland Park, IL USA Category:  Microsoft  Add/View Comments [2]

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  1. 1  Philip Storry  | 9/14/2004 3:04:16 PM

    Shocking!

    But I'm afraid I've had such dark thoughts myself sometimes. And they've grown more and more frequent as time has gone on.

    I'd always thought it was just me that got annoyed that a company with billions in cash reserves would choose to spend that cash on trying to break into the games market. Or cable TV before that. Or mobile phones. Or in-car entertainment. Or...

    Well, the list is probably pretty long. To be fair, they've had some sucesses too. Which is the only thing that stops me from coming right out like Novell have...

  1. 2  Randall Shimizu  | 9/14/2004 8:50:22 PM

    What companies and IT professionals should ask is what the ROI is for $60 billion. I do agree that MS enterprise licensing agreements have diverted a lot money to mediocere MS software. I believe in the best of breed products. The bike industry plays a similar monopolistic game. They try and get you to buy a gruppo and lock you in to their products.