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VA Going Bigtime 103

Posted by CmdrTaco from the stuff-to-read dept.
VA Research had their little press conference today. They talked about their Linux.com acquisition and their intel investment- they also are reporting that they are going to offer 24/7 on-site service through DecisionOne. Most interesting, is that as part of their intel deal, they'll be porting Linux to Merced (under NDA) and are targetting a complete GPL source release of the port upon the release of the chip. Update: 03/02 06:31 by CT : theGEEK wrote in to link to a wired article that talks about the cost of linux.com. The article basically says less than the top bid of $5 million, but more than a million.
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VA Going Bigtime More

VA Going Bigtime

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  • Well, uh, they better. Unless they want to be sued.
  • "There is plenty of GPL code release without the source."

    Haha, how is this accomplished?
  • "Although van Kempen has been using Linux since 1989..."

    Um, since version 0.01 of Linux came out in 1991, I find this rather hard to believe.
  • I worked the numbers. Selling a system based on a K6-2/300 came out to be $50 cheaper than selling a system based on a Celeron 300A.

    In other words, we get the hassle of stocking yet another motherboard, stocking yet another processor, incurring the various carrying costs of additional inventory... for a measly $50 savings.

    We just don't sell enough low-end machines to justify that. Most people wanting low-end machines build their own -- like me (of my original computer, bought in 1995, only the floppy drive is still left).

    Oh, in the latest benchmarks on Tom's Hardware Guide the ASUS P2B blew away the Intel 440BX motherboard :-).

    -- Eric
  • Well, that's another reason we didn't bother with the K6-2 :-). (And the ASUS P2B motherboards we sell are an overclocker's dream, according to Tom's Hardware Guide).

    Note, however, that doing this voids your warranty :-(.

    -- Eric
  • Posted by OGL:

    The advisory board, as I understand it, is there for the very purpose of keeping the linux.com site "real" and non-commercialized. As for graphical UI's, I like them because they look good and make my life easier. Sure, I can use a CLUI if I want (and I do for my dedicated servers), but why should I hassle myself for my everyday work/play? I agree that 0.99.8 has a long way to go before it's ready to be released, but on the other hand there has never been an official release date set for tomorrow for 1.0, and even if there is we will have to trust Miguel to have gotten rid of enough bugs before making the move. I would have to see some recent CVS before I made any judgements (GNOME development goes pretty quickly).

    As for Linux in general, it doesn't take a moron to see that HUGE things are happening. A look at slashdot over the past couple days confirms this. For some I guess this is a bit much to handle, but for me it's just plain exciting, and I know as long as we dedicate ourselves to keeping the development free and open (and as soon as Rob finally bans the ACs) we'll be impossible to corrupt.

    -W.W.
  • Posted by OGL:

    I did it for awhile, and it's annoying...someone posts, then an AC replies, then another real person responds to the AC...blech. I'm tired of AC's and their stupid excuses:

    1. I forgot my password!

    Please. You use a UNIX-like operating system, you should be capable of remembering a damn password.

    2. I need to protect my privacy!

    Excuse me mr. Bond. Get a hotmail account.

    3. First Post/Beowulf Cluster!!!

    Die.

    That about sums it up. I have a feeling most trolls are not linux users anyway, and don't regularly read /. By forcing them to get accounts, you're saying "to post here you must know what you're talking about." I think this would save the moderators a lot of work.

    -W.W.
  • how much more ridiculous can this get?

    Well, a bunch of lamers could come out of the woodwork to whine about what other people do with GPL'd software. Face it, the licensing terms for linux allow this kind of commercialism, regardless of how rediculous it seems to you.

    This is not a flame. I'm just letting you know that so long as the GPL is not violated, I don't give a rat's ass what you think. I'm sure you feel similarly about my opinion; that's cool with me.

  • The Merced's inability to cope w/ existing 32-bit code could signal it's demise...Intel may be putting its eggs in the wrong basket on this one.

    If that is actually Merced's achilles-heel, wouldn't that make a native 64-bit operating-system the right basket?

    Compiler teams are all fouled up right now b/c they have no idea what the Merced actually looks like. Oh sure, we've seen the "projected" specs and sheets... but where are the details?

    I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that the compiler team will benefit from the NDA in this respect.

  • *groan* (Score:1)

    by Scott ( 1049 )
    Although van Kempen has been using Linux since 1989, he works primarily on a Windows PC at Nobel Van Dijk, a consulting firm in Bussum, Netherlands, "I need my business applications, so what choice do I have?" he said.

    Way to go there Fred, nice of you to imply Linux has no applications.
  • The cheapest domain name today is over $1000. The standard routine is to buy domain names off their owners. What was 1994 like? Did domain names really only cost $100?
  • Its good that linux.com is finally in the hands of someone that likes Linux. Ive been listening to fred diss Linux for the last 4 years.
    I just wish that the deal hadnt made a complete arsehole a rich complete arsehole.
    Still, knowing him, he will blow it all on porn CDs, like he usually does.
  • Humm, one can wonder why you are using GNOME if you don't want (or need) "a point and click OS".

    /mill
  • I've been told by someone working on the peripheral chips that Linux is *already* running on the Merced simulator. Can you say "done deal"? Linus did.
    -russ
  • I just checked www.linux.com
    It now says "This web page is not here yet. "

    Inside the code it says ""

    Looks like they're pulling a Transmeta
  • Woah.
    That's just freaky.
    I realised my post commented out the second part of my message...
    Went to double check the webpage...
    and it's back to the old site.

    GAK!
  • I totally agree but the only problem is that I am kinda a hipocrit. I just started useing linux last year. Oh well it's more than I can say for the windows users.
  • umm - it has chunks in it, so it isn't drool, it's puke.

    built in serial numbers - I don't think so

  • Obviously, they just want true 64 bit Unix-like OS for merced asap. But what the hey?

    I bet now Sequent, another intel based server hardware manufacturer, ( they use Dynix PTX and NT ) might not be too far behind.

    World Domination!



  • It's not clear it's a big deal. I think Intel is protecting their lead. If the source is released GPL'ed at the same time as the chip, then, hey that's a legit use of NDA. Time will tell.

    Whatever you may think of Intel or Microsoft, it is reasonable to protect your investment by hiding it's features from view. What's not reasonable are the standard practice of NDA's on released hardware API's, which is to me like selling someone a car with 4 identical ports, and not saying which is for gas, oil, transmission fluid or windshield wiper fluid.

    Also not reasonable is using your clout as a player to force people to use only your product.

    Merit is the key, but everyone should get the chance to work in peace, just so long as they make a resonable disclosure when they do release.
  • That AMD K7 looks like it'll be quite the nice CPU, but I'm thinking it looks rather doubtful as to whether someone will be able to get a K7-based machine from VAResearch...unfortunate, as their machines are already quite pricey. Sticking with Intel isn't likely to change that much.
  • Interesting. NeXT and their lawyers seemed to disagree.
  • news.com story is here [news.com], for people who want the full story.

    - Sam Trenholme

  • Bah (Score:1)

    by rcooper ( 5719 )
    If you don't like whats happening with Linux these days, then just move over to BSD. Im sure the BSD people could use the attention.


  • just out of curiosity... any chance for a SINGLE example?

    Ed
  • Uhhh...unless you want a cellular link, what's the point of a laptop modem? You have to be tied down to the phone cord anyway right? SO GET A REAL MODEM AND SCREW IT INTO YOUR SERIAL PORT WHEN YOU NEED TO GET ONLINE! :)
    heheh, sorry it's just that I've been so confused for so long as to why anyone would want a laptop modem.
    .
  • And did you actually call him Linux to his face?
    .
  • Nobody's said how they feel about the part where it says "...an advisory board comprised of members from Silicon Graphics, Slashdot, and Oracle..."

    I would like to state for the record that it makes me really happy. Rob, are you the representation?

  • Really? (Score:1)

    by Dast ( 10275 )

    The average GPL fanatic doesn't understand this. Microprocessors grow on trees, and the people in the colored clean-room suits harvest them, and when the harvest is finished, they go on TV commercials and dance badly.


    You mean that isn't how it happens? *snap* And this whole time I was so angry that I had to pay for my processor. ;-)

  • > why is everyone so freaked out about graphical UIs?

    Probably for the same reason people liked the electric ignitions on their automobiles: it makes it easier to use, and you don't have to stand in the rain to start your car.

    A GUI interface, on TOP of the everything else, is a win-win situation for everyone. The shells aren't going away and you'll always be able to run programs this way, but isn't it nice to have the option of a GUI?

    > but i bet even Linus would agree that the commercialism springing up is making him sick.

    Though shalt not take Linus' name in vain. But if you must, just how much are you willing to bet? Considering his current employment, I would really doubt that he's against commercialism.
  • If you were really under NDA, you wouldn't be able to tell us...poser!

    ;)

  • What I'd like to know is if it will be done with
    a proprietary compiler, or if there will be a GCC
    port for IA64.
  • I agree that a decent compiler is a must. But I swaer recently slashdot reported that Intel was putting money into a linux compiler for Pentium II & III which would be folded into the GNU compiler. Its not a big jump to see them doing the same for the merced.
  • VA rocks, it's great to see them getting recognition.
  • The way I intrepeted what I read is that the NDA disappeared when the chip was released and the code would be released. As long as they aren't distrobuting the binaries for the Merced linux while under the NDA they aren't violating the GPL. Intel has a good reason to do this, VA is going to have complete specs for the merced. Any company in Intel's spot wouldn't want those specs going out un moderated. Once the chip is out, anyone who cares to can reverse engineer it (not saying it's easy, but that it's possible). You should try to understand situations better before you propse legal action upon anyone. A one sentince second or third hand report about something is not a good source when you're considering legal action.
  • Good. Now convince Digital to fold their compiler
    technology into GCC and to support a port to their
    high-end server hardware (where it would compete
    directly against OSF1/DU/Tru64/Whatever, no doubt
    on a fairly equal basis except for the freakish
    SCSI layer in Linux and the lack of a good journal
    filesystem and logical volume management), and
    then convince them that it's in their best interest
    to sell the shittum out of Alphas at fire-sale
    prices to geeks at home (I could do a lot with a
    21264 at 666MHz for, say, $2k for the system).
    You want Alphas? Talk to the suits at Compaq.

    --Corey
  • The NDA doesn't matter...With the source release right along side the chip release, you'll still be compiling kernel sources on your brand spanking new Merced machine. The only difference is the fact that we'll have to choke down a buggy release and fix it rather than building a reliable kernel from the ground up.
  • this is starting to suck. linux doesn't need all this pathetic commercialism. why is everyone so freaked out about graphical UIs? Does anyone that KNOWS how to use a computer want a point and click OS?
    now there is some "advisory board" for linux.com. how much more ridiculous can this get. there's nothing wrong with linux the way it is now, who cares if "the whole world" starts to use it, including the idiot MiCrOsOfT TeChNiCiAnS. i actually like being one of the select few that are "enlightened" to the linux way. i think the media is messing linux up, so infatuated with stupid graphical ui's because they don't know how to start a program without clicking away.
    ok more linux users is good, i guess. but i bet even Linus would agree that the commercialism springing up is making him sick.
    also, what's up with gnome 1.0, a release (supposedly) tomorrow, wednesday march 3, 1999?! when i had .99.8 it crashed 24/7. who wants the blind media to get their first 'real' impression of a linux desktop as one that crashes just as much as windows? oh i really hope it was just my crappy box and all the damned stuff i have installed that caused it to crash.
    a few months ago, linux was this amazing thing that i worshipped, now its getting a different face on. don't get me wrong, i still love linux, but i get this wierd feeling when i ponder all that has been happening lately concerning linux.
    flames, why would there be any, will be ignored just so you don't waste your time or something, something inspiring to me will be nice though ;)
  • WHEN do you Linux free for all people DRAW THE LINE, didnt want linux.com to be commercialized, for 5 MILLLLLLLION dollars? Want a right or left nut? for 5 MILLION? come ON, do you CARE what happens when you have 5 million? WTF

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