HP Becomes a Platinum Member of the Linux Foundation

who_stole_my_kidneys writes in about how HP has gained a seat on the Linux Foundation's board of directors. "Snagging a first-class upgrade might empty out the contents of your wallet, but be glad you're not trying to buy your way to the Linux Foundation's top table. With a strategic investment of $500,000, Hewlett Packard has just become a platinum member of the body, alongside companies like Intel, Qualcomm and Samsung. In exchange for all that cash, HP gets a seat on the Foundation's board of directors and will have a say in how to advance the foundation's aims — and hopefully give Open webOS a gentle push, too."

Comments

$500,000

[neminem]

According to wikipedia, in 2011 HP was worth about 130 billion dollars. They probably spend 500k on [i]toilet paper[/i] in a year.

Re:$500,000

[starsky51]

iToiletPaper? They have an app for everything now-a-days!

Re:$500,000

[Githaron]

Remind me never to borrow your phone.

Re:$500,000

[Hatta]

From your wiki link:

In order for Linux creator Linus Torvalds and other key kernel developers to remain independent, the Linux Foundation sponsors them so they can work full-time on improving Linux.

Re:$500,000

[fph il quozientatore]

Using Google to say $500k USD is $600k NZD and NZD $80k for a Software Engineer in New Zealand.

I tried googling for "500k USD into New Zealand programmers", but that doesn't make the conversion. Well, I'll try with Wolfram Alpha.

Half Million?

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

I don't think that meets the HP bar for a rounding-error.

Only 1/2m??

[slartibartfastatp]

It's practically nothing for HP! Just guess how much to have a voice on other OSs.

What does the Linux Foundation do?

[swillden]

AFAICT, Linux developers don't follow any agenda but their own -- each individual does whatever he or she wants (or is told to do by his or her employer), Linus' lieutenants accept any patches that seem both safe and useful, and Linus integrates whatever he gets from his lieutenants that seems safe and useful.

And none of them appear to pay any attention to anything the "Linux Foundation" says. So what does joining this body give HP, other than an opportunity to make some press releases?

Re:What does the Linux Foundation do?

[Microlith]

Many of the core kernel developers, including Linus himself, are employees of the Linux Foundation. Additionally, Kernel.org is supported by the Linux Foundation. The foundation spends quite a bit of time managing various and sundry summits which serve to bring the disparate kernel developers together.

They function both as a bit of infrastructure support as well as a promotional arm, though almost exclusively with respect to the kernel. They get real hype on Android because it gets the kernel out there, but rarely utter a word about standard Linux distros.

Re:What does the Linux Foundation do?

[mounthood]

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/about/join/corporate

Besides ensuring that your company’s investment in Linux is protected from a legal, technical and promotional perspective, there are many other benefits in joining the Linux Foundation as a Corporate Member.

The Benefits of Linux Foundation Membership

        The ability to participate in Linux Foundation member-only activities like the Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit and Legal Summit to learn, influence and participate with the Linux Foundation workgroups
        The right to vote and run for Linux Foundation board seats and influence the direction of the organization
        Unsurpassed networking opportunities and a unique introductions service. Meet other Linux Foundation members and Linux users in small settings or get introduced to companies in a one-on-one fashion by Linux Foundation staff>
        Access to the Linux Foundation media network, including Linux.com. The Linux Foundation reaches 2 million users and developers a month through its online channels and newsletters and promotes members directly to these audiences
        Discounts on Linux training
        The right to participate in Linux Foundation member councils such as the Vendor and End User Councils and collaborate directly with the technical leaders of Linux
        Discounts for sponsoring LinuxCon, Linux Japan Symposium, The Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit and other Linux Foundation events. Members get priority at these events
        Logo listing on the Linux Foundation site and the ability to add a member logo to your site or marketing materials
        Exclusive member content, such as the Briefing Book, and one-on-one analyst briefings (depending on membership level) that keeps you up to date on the Linux market to make the most of your investment in Linux
        The ability to create workgroups and collaborate in a neutral setting to solve pressing Linux or open source issues
        Guidance on open source issues and using Linux in your products

Will WebOS become a true alternative?

[ArcadeMan]

Between a closed iOS controlled by Apple and a seemingly non-heterogeneous and sometimes controlled by the carriers Android OS, is WebOS the only valid alternative?

Can HP succeed where RIM failed? I'd like to see iOS, Android and WebOS each get around 30-35% userbase, in order to keep each other from taking over. The last thing we need is another OS with 90%+ userbase, no matter which one it is.

Re:Sounds Like I Should Start A Linux Foundation T

[master5o1]

With blackjack and hookers...

Time for a Firing

[TechyImmigrant]

If HP are in charge, it must be time to fire 20% of the Linux Foundation workforce.

Re:Time for a Firing

[TechyImmigrant]

Or sell off the 'kernel development' part of the operation, and call it 'Flagilent'

Even better

[dutchwhizzman]

Even better, once it fails altogether, they will give it to the community in an Open Source Project!

Might this be about Windows 8?

[DougReed]

It occurs to me that HP has seen Windows 8... Has seen consumer reaction to it. Has seen M$ trying to build their own hardware, and has seen the success of Android and iPad.

Basically M$ had the world by the balls because of the Windows infrastructure. Now they are:
o Building an OS that is fundamentally incompatible with that infrastructure.
o Screwing their business partners by building their own hardware.

HP (and everyone with a clue) knows M$ ALWAYS screws up everything they touch. (We have already seen this ... Apps already disappearing on the new surface. The OS taking most of the system resources.) .. and maybe .. just maybe has figured they better look for a better future. Maybe we just might see HP and maybe someone like Ubuntu partner to produce a reasonable alternative to Windows 8. I mean given the availability of Chrome, Skype, and Libre' Office. Ubuntu might be as compatible with Windows as Windows 8 is... If the users and businesses REALLY HATE the horribly ugly and dysfunctional Windows 8 systems... Maybe HP can say ... here buy this instead and it MIGHT just catch this time.

Of course... I don't much like the "new" (can something two years old still be called new?) Ubuntu desktop either, but I think it beats Windows 8.