One of the favourite public refrains of the FOSS movement is that Windows is too expensive, and that Microsoft swindles consumers, governments, taxpayers, penguins, and orphans.

In the interests of balance, we'd like to draw attention to Novell's forthcoming release of openSUSE 10.3, available for pre-order on its website.

openSUSE: Doesn't even come with Windows Media Player

Yes, Novell wants £3,308 for tuppence-worth of DVD loaded with free software. We also note that German and French fanboys can hack the kernel to their heart's content for a mere €51.68. This disgraceful example of rip-off Britain will not stand.

Of course, open source conspiracy theorists (and shockingly, they do exist) will cry that this is a direct result of Novell's recently enacted policy of appeasement towards the Beast of Redmond. ®

Bootnote

Thanks to reader John for the heads-up.

Related stories

• HP to ship SuSE on India PCs (18 March 2008)
• Novell congratulates itself for snogging Microsoft (3 January 2008)
• Novell blows kisses to channel (20 November 2007)
• OpenSUSE 10.3 opens for business (4 October 2007)
• Microsoft and LogicaCMG open Factory 2.0 doors (3 October 2007)
• Novell fills Microsoft Silverlight hole (5 September 2007)
• Novell won't pull a SCO (16 August 2007)
• Novell owns Unix copyrights after all (11 August 2007)
• LinuxWorld Linux vendors and Microsoft follow the money (10 August 2007)
• LinuxWorld Novell CEO confirms that Microsoft is a reality (8 August 2007)