The big Microsoft deal to cooperate in marketing of Novell’s Suse Linux open source operating system along side Windows was not enough to save Novell shareholders. Weak guidance got them in the end.

Novell said that its revenue next year could be as low as $950 million. Wall St. wanted a round $1 billion.

Odd that Novell should view its future through such a dim lense. The company’s cooperation with Microsoft should fuel some growth. The deal has hit some bumps with the Linux community, but it should avoid a direct hit.

With its stock below $6, Novell shareholders are not better off than they were before MSFT.

Douglas A. McIntyre can be reached at douglasamcintyre@247wallst.com. He does not own securities in companies that he writes about.