Ron Schenone

Microsoft + Novell + Wal-Mart +Ubuntu + Dell = Conspiracy ?

Posted by on May 26, 2007 | 19 Comments

What triggered my entire thought process on a conspiracy theory is when I read that Dell is going to sell their Dimension series of computers through Wal-Mart and Sams Club. Hold on here! Let us look at everything that has happened since Microsoft struck a sweetheart deal with Novell that still has the Linux community spinning and trying to come up with a new GPL to stop such deals.

After the Microsoft-Novell pact, they entered into a joint venture to assist each other in a deal involving Wal-Mart. The story at the time went that Wal-Mart was giving its blessing to Microsoft and Novell to facilitate the introduction of SuSE Enterprise Edition in conjunction with Microsoft products into the Wal-Mart system, which just happened to use Red Hat at the time.

Dell supposedly gets pounded by a hoard of folks demanding they come up with a Linux box. Dell goes back and forth and finally gives in, announcing they will use Ubuntu. Than Dell does a strange thing and joins in the Microsoft-Novell alliance.

Microsoft then pulls out the war drums against Linux saying you are violating a whole bunch of our patents so watch it. The world quakes for a few days when all of a sudden Mark Shuttleworth of Ubuntu fame comes out and says, relax, all is well and than praises Microsoft for its innovations and says Unbuntu shares a lot of common goals with the mega operating system giant.

After Dell comes out with their Ubuntu systems they also announce they will be selling their Dimension computers through Wal-Mart and Sams Club. We now have mega billion dollar companies all working together. The only one who is missing from the scene is Intel. Oh, there they are. All 3 Dell Linux boxes are using Intel chips, however the boxes being sold via Wal-Mart have AMD chips. Maybe Intel and AMD weren’t invited to the conspiracy. :-)
Conspiracy? I don’t think so. I believe it is just some smart folks from some large companies joining forces for what they perceive as joint ventures to benefit their business plans.

But what do you think? Are the mega billionaires who own these companies getting ready for world domination?

Comments welcome.

[tags]microsoft, dell, novell, wal-mart, intel, linux, ubuntu, [/tags]

  • mark

    you could be on to something here. i have a feeling these guys are hanging out at pres. bushs’ ranch in texas, eating hotdgos and beans with bin laden and the other members of the 911 gang.

  • Pingback: Boycott Novell » Theory: Dell Sets Precedence for OEMs Tied to Microsoft’s Linux Limitations

  • JR

    amd/ati have horrible Linux drives, so they can’t be used, period. Intel has provided open Intel drivers for years, so if you use an Intel graphics card…you get Intel everything. Same with their wireless; Dell’s traditional partner, Broadcom, has no Linux drivers, so they go with Intel or Ralink.

    I do think this is an interesting theory though. That post from Mark Shuttleworth is very odd.

  • Eddie Jones

    To me this as you stated is a shrud business deal that will earn a lot of clout, but it is far to say the the behamont whose name should not be uttered, will be on the back of the FOSS community which gives Linux life, is not a joke and it is time for that force to stand and be recogized as a alternative, freedom and why this Open Source movement is a threat to the King of the Hill and it time for Linux to take off the gloves. Dell is a sellout, Novell was greedy to secure thier place and the name the should not be uttered will crush what they can’t conquer, anyone remember Netscape?

  • http://kylekeeton.blogspot.com/ Kyle keeton

    Ron,

    The world as we know it is alot smaller than we realize. I was struck with this realization when I moved to Moscow, Russia. The first place I ate at was McDonalds. The same food the same price. Served the same Coke the same everything.

    Conspiracy: No, Just corporations that follow the (you scratch my back and I will scratch your back) mentality.

    I look around me in Russia and see American companies everywhere. You go shopping and I can find many items made in America. I can find more Items made in America in Russia than when I lived in the USA. That seems strange to me.

    Wal-mart will if anyone can, can give Dell a shot in the arm. Increase sales. Mayby not profit but it will increase volume.

    The corporations live by a different set of rules than us simple mortals. I know, I worked in the corporate world most of my life in upper managment.

    Kyle Keeton

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello JR,
    Thanks for your comment. We will ses what happens.

    Hi Eddie Jones,
    We all remember what happened to Netscape.

    Heh Kyle,
    Interesting take on McDonalds and other corporate businesses in Russia. Even China isn’t safe! :-)

    Thanks for all the comments,
    Ron

  • Joe Mama

    The only thing really missing here is the oil companies.

    If somehow they are, or become, involved: Then there will be no end to people crying conspiracy, illuminati, government corruption, NWO, and all that fun stuff… I can’t even imagine the logic they will use to tie it together, but, then again, I don’t really understand much of their logic anyway…about anything.

    All this is is some big ass companies making a shit-ton of money by providing good computers for dirt prices (surely they will be manufactured in China, so as to keep the prices as low as possible – If not now, then in the future for sure…)

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Joe,
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments.
    Ron

  • http://www.direct2dell.com JBatDell

    Conspiracy? No. I have been working here at Dell on the Ubuntu program and I can tell you that we had folks from several distributions that wanted to work with us on installing Linux on desktops and notebooks. We ran a survey to see what Linux users wanted. Ubuntu won by a wide margin and our product offerings reflect what customers requested. And, we brought the products to market in record time — in just more than 90 days.

  • Bob

    Correction — Wal-Mart was never a Red Hat customer, had no Linux before the MS-Novell deal.

    Regardless though, I’m sitting here with my tin-foil hat on, watching out for aliens.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    jBatDell,
    Thanks for the info. and response.

    Hi Bob,
    Goes to show what some of the tech. writers and magazines know. Thanks for the info as well.

    Ron

  • Joe Again

    @JBatDell: Can you explain what is Dell’s involvement with MS/Novell? Why is Dell getting involved in any of that at all?

    P.S. I voted for Ubuntu myself. Tell whoever it may concern over there that this Linux user said Thanks for Listening!

    P.S.#2 Now if Dell could somehow flex some muscle and get the message out to the gaming industry that we, the consumers, want our games MS-Free – That would also be much appreciated (and help Dell sell a boatload more of those Ubuntu systems, I would imagine). I’m buying one anyway….but I digress.

  • http://www.infowars.com Vietman

    OLPC may be the true conspiracy in the picture. They want to get a computer to everybody in the world, so they can have a global currency, and transaction tracking grid, where we all make transactions through the computer.

    Stop the New World Order! Fight the Bilderbergs!

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Vietman,
    Interesting concept and theory. Thanks for the comment.
    Ron

  • http://www.myspace.com/yaboyric Ricardo Hanley Jr.

    this my my email address, Godsglory20@yahoo.com

    Please can you send me the names of Billion Dollar Companies and If you can their overall revenue. Thank You, I’m trying to create a better world but I need help.

  • Broadcom Drivers

    To JR:

    Broadcom DOES have Linux drivers. I don’t know what YOU are looking at…

    I use Broadcom drivers in Ubuntu.

  • Anonymous

    You can’t compare the two disasters.

    Yes, the Gulf oil disaster was terrible, and the damages may persist for decades or more.

    You can’t compare oil to radioactivity. Excess radiation might not settle down to tolerable levels for a hundred years or more. The effects of this excess radiation will be seen for generations of people yet unborn. The radiation could easily spread around the world.

    I was in the military. I was trained in Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare. I was reminded of the destructive power of nuclear bombs.

    The Gulf Stream disaster doesn’t hold a candle to the nuclear news in Japan.

    Each disaster, in its own right is a call for man to take greater care concerning our environment.

    • http://chris.pirillo.com/ Chris Pirillo

      I don’t think “man” will care for the environment so long as there’s money to be made – in any capacity. Energy has to come from somewhere.

      • Anonymous

        You may be right.

        I, however, still hope “Man” will learn before it’s too late.