While many are still irked by Novell getting in bed with Microsoft and others have pointed the finger at them as selling out, it has been very good financially for the company. According to Novell, they are gearing up to be a cornerstone for mixed-environment datacenters, and as a result of their actions in partnering with MS they have seen profits skyrocket.
Will the momentum continue? Or will it eventually catch up with them, and the overwhelming might that is Microsoft end up crushing any innovation they would seek to bring? They aren't the only vendor to pair with Redmond, though they certainly are the most prominent. Their actions will directly affect how Linux and Windows together are perceived. Novell is sure their plan will continue on well for years.
Even if the deal helps Novell grow, whether or not it will help Linux and open source projects as a whole grow remains to be seen.