That little tid-bit from InfoWorld we gave you weeks ago about Microsoft Corp and Novell Inc having kicked the idea of merger around (CI No 2,043) was last week elevated to front-page news in Computer Reseller News, which says that last February, Microsoft offered $85 a share – when Novell was selling in the low $60s; the story, which traces some of the bad feelings that Novell harbours towards Microsoft to the spoiled deal, says that Novell got skittish after it shared some inside information with Microsoft and only then found out that the company was secretly negotiating to take over Fox Software Inc.
