What is Mandriva?

“"In order to grow, Mandriva needs to focus on more than just brand equity. It needs to offer solutions that target the public sector and commercial customers," said Stacey Quandt, senior business analyst, Robert Francis Group.”

Mandriva, in case you were wondering, is not a lotion. It’s not an African primate. It’s not a synthetic fiber. It’s not a skin condition. No, it’s the name dreamed up by the PR folks at MandrakeSoft and Connectiva to entitle their new, merged company.

Now I’m no PR person. But honest to goodness, MANDRIVA? I know, I know, you take the first part of one name and the last part of the other, but geez! Why not Mandrake Connect? ManCon? Anything a little less . . .

Of course, this gets me to thinking of other potential mergers in the volatile hi-tech business world.

Cisco Systems is a mighty corporation renowned for buying out other companies and their technologies. They were recently flirting with purchasing Nortel Networks. A.B.Dick is a powerhouse in the industrial printing field, and Cisco is always looking to diversify. So, what if the three got together and formed . . . NABISCO? Oh, already taken.

Okay, let’s try again. Microsoft is another renowned buyer of other companies. Why, it wouldn’t be out of reason for them to even branch into the Automobile market, what with PC-driven electronics already in use. It might be particularly advantageous of them to enter the high-potential British subcompact market. And why not branch further into the print media? An up-and-comer is Skirt! Magazine, spreading its distribution across the SE United States as a periodical aimed at women. So, when the lawyers get all finished with the paperwork, we would proudly announce MICRO-MINI-SKIRT!

Okay, enough of that. My head is spinning with the possibility of country legend George Strait cutting some sort of deal with Pfizer, manufacturers of heating rub Ben-Gay . . .