SLED FROM PAGE 23 year for the equivalent of Novell’s source implementations of these
ronment, Novell is pitching SLED 11 Priority support. On the other functions are of murky legality.
as a mainstream desktop option. hand, support for Ubuntu Linux What’s more, according to Novell
I would like to see Novell reorga- is optional, as the distribution is officials, the client software for
nize its desktop Linux efforts more available for free download, with Likewise Enterprise, which enables
along the lines of what Canonical security and bug-fix updates that companies to use Microsoft Active
and the Ubuntu Linux project have are accessible to anyone. Directory and Group Policy to
done. The core of every Ubuntu Beyond differences in support handle identity and management
release is composed tasks on Linux desktops,
of packages for which will be available through
Canonical offers explicit SLED’s software reposi-
support. Available for tories in a few weeks at
installation alongside no additional cost. Like-
these packages is a wise Enterprise pricing
separate—and much begins at $59 per seat,
larger—repository of so its inclusion in SLED
community-supported means a nice price sav-
software packages. ings for companies that
Novell’s SLED 11 wish to bring Novell’s
is available via sub- Linux desktop under a
scription, with Basic, Microsoft management
Standard and Priority structure.
subscription plans that SLED 11 also compares
differ in cost and sup- favorably with Windows
port services. All three Vista on price, at least
plans include access to As a subscription-based product, SLED 11 must be activated to access when you consider Win-maintenance updates bug-fix and security patches. dows Vista Enterprise
and security patches with Software Assur-during the subscription terms, and costs, SLED ships with a handful ance. Microsoft is secretive about
cover support for an unlimited num- of applications included in its price its Software Assurance pricing for
ber of virtual machines. that would add cost to an Ubuntu Windows, but Novell is citing Vista
Basic subscriptions include 30 desktop, such as support for MP3 Enterprise prices that start at about
days of telephone and e-mail-based and DVD playback. These features $333 per desktop per year. ´
support and cost $50 per system are available freely on Ubuntu or
for one year or $125 per system for any other Linux desktop, but due Executive Editor Jason Brooks can be
three years. Standard subscriptions to patent encumbrances, the open- reached at jbrooks@eweek.com.
cost $125 per system for one year
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
and $324 per system for three years,
and include telephone and e-mail
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 In Version 11
support over the full support term.
of its SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, Novell addresses top enterprise IT concerns with
Priority subscriptions cost $220 per
its flexible and affordable support offerings, as well as with its efforts around smoothing
system for one year and $590 per
integration issues between Linux and Windows. As with Version 10 of Novell’s SLED, I
system for three years, and improve
found myself wishing for a broader selection of software packages, but SLED 11 is a
upon the Standard plan’s 12/5 sup- solid overall desktop Linux option.
port hours with 24/7 support.
Novell’s support pricing for SLED COST ANALYSIS: SLED 11 subscriptions range from $50 to $220 per system per
11 compares well with that of Canon-
year, depending on the level of support desired.
ical’s Ubuntu Linux, which costs
EVALUATION SHORTLIST
$250 per system per year for the
equivalent of Novell’s Standard sup- Apple Mac OS X 10. 5, Canonical Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, Windows XP/Vista
port plan, and $900 per system per
