Comments on: Novell shareholder urges company spinoffs, cuts

Blum Capital voices concerns about the software company's performance and calls for a greater focus on Linux.

[Dachi]

Agree and disagree

I agree they could generate some cash by selling off sections but I am not so sure I agree that Zenworks would be a wise choice for the short list. (the story also said $500 billion, I think that is million)

I also tend to disagree with many investor types about the importance of R&D spending. It is one thing to refocus where the company is going and make some cuts, but cutting R&D across to board is like burning the furniture to keep warm.

Look at Sun Microsystems in 5 years to see what I mean.

If Novell listened to all of the suggestions in this article they would just become another re-branded Red Hat clone.

It seems SUSE is currently the strongest thing Novell has going for it, but they are going to need more than "me too" to make it work for them.

Don't overlook the simple things. Just go to www.novell.com and try to find something worth buying. The site is full of market speak and "fill out this form and we will call you's"

In popularity Novell Linux Desktop is # 81 on distrowatch.com, only 75 places behind KNOPPIX.

That can't even be considered trying.

I have a unique idea that would put Novel back on the map but I am not even going to give it away.

mistake found

In the second Blum's suggestion,"billion" should be "million".

[Steven N]

Who needs enemy with shareolders like those

With what these Blum characters are proposing Novell might as well just be closing down their whole business.

Cutting down on R&D is just plain stupid these times. Stop innovating these days, and you're dead meat before you even know it.

Also, selling of Zenworks and Groupwise? These are two products that are getting mature and that can make a hell of a difference.

Stockholders should quit whining, and companies should be working for their customers, and not for their stockholders.
If stockholders don't like the value of their stock, then they should sell it and put their money elsewhere.

[ddesy]

Exactly right

I couldn't agree more. Supporting the customers is number one. As someone who supports a Novell NetWare based network, I definitely don't want to see R&D cut, nor do I want to see their other products cut.

Novell might not be perfect, but it still has some of the best software out there. It's too bad stockholders only care about money. If it weren't for their types, companies would be able to put more into making better products.

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