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VA Going Bigtime
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.
Um, did linux.com just disappear? It was there a day ago, wasn't, or have I lost my mind?
This sounds like the way to go. I think it is unreasonable for the Linux community to expect companies to not have NDAs. The correct way to handle a piece of given hardware is to work with the company, to see if it is possible to have the NDAs expire when the product is released, or have a binary-only driver available until the company becomes more open (such as how we got NeoMagic support)
- Sam Trenholme (Can one change their Slashdot password to one that someone can actually remember)
Fuck NDA's!!!
anyone agree?
Or does all that Open Source community cr*p just fly out the window when it gets in the way of profit? I thought VA promised that linux.com would be an open resource open to all and not just a domain to hock products from. Geez, got any Linux laptops for less than $5000?
That makes more sense. I was just contacted today by a DecisionOne recruter that was looking for Linux support people. They must have been gearing up for this for a while. I wasn't looking for a tech support job, but this looks like it may be the best tech support job I have been offered.
You know with IBM offering linux as well as HP (or whatever they become) VA is rather small in terms of $$$ or volume. It would have been more interesting two years ago. I just hope they don't fall in step with Intel on the linux distribution reigning in statement that was posted yesterday.
:)
The Linux world is getting rather crowded. The BSD folks seem rather peaceful these days.
All the best,
Ronald Rangel
Nope. Gotta make money buy recouping your research. They just want to get a head start and all.
Plus does it affect you?
If it's a choice between an NDA and having Linux running native on Merced when the chip hits the market, and no NDA and having to wait util six months to a year after it hits the market, I'll take the NDA, thank you.
The NDA sounds like a detriment to development, but think about it: the "main" development will have to be done under NDA, but once the OS is running and the chip comes out, the whole thing reverts back to GPL where those "thousands of eyeballs" can help find and squash any remaining bugs. It's not like it'll always be under NDA. In this case, it'll even help because Intel will be willing to actively help in the port, instead of the porting team having to reverse-engineer the hardware to make it work correctly.
I wonder if NT will even be stable running native on the Merced by the time the last few annoying little bugs have been squashed out of the Linux port...
In this case, I don't think it's too bad. Intel WILL release full info on the Merced processor eventually, just like with the rest of their chips. So what it we have to play this NDA game for a little while? If Linux supports Merced when the chip is first released, that sounds like a huge asset.
This is clearly a troll to get a lot of resonses, but I will bite.
The anti-NDA sentiment comes from the old days of Linux, when Linux, as far as the big companies, hardware makers, and magazines were concerned, did not exist. Back then, there was no chance that hardware makers would take the time to make a Linux driver, and the technical people making Linux drivers did not have the clout or the negotiation skills to work around a companies' perceived need for an NDA.
These days, where hardware makers know that Linux exists, there are a number of options for working around the NDA issue, such as the hardware maker making their own driver, and external Linux company making a binary-only driver, or getting a reasonable time limit on an NDA.
- Sam
Hopefully they won't WASTE some of their resources by spending time porting to Merced. Merced doesn't have a chance without a decent compiler, which the open source movement isn't about to produce. As it looks right now, Linux on Merced is a huge gamble.
Watch it, brother. Or "the board" will take care of your sorry ass. ;)
I have read that the MS Merced plan is --you guessed it-- another kludge. Considerable amounts of code will still be 32 bits. Anyone know more?
fucking troll!
on merced, when it's already running on that Elbrus chip that could smoke intel's you know what! Now if they can only produce those E2k's...
sounds like they have the @ in the DNS pointing to a different machine than the CNAME pointing to www.
Looks like we need a VA logo, instead of just putting them under news.
Ahh, but Intel recently paid some $$$ to Cygnus to get gcc up to speed on the merced platform.
There's alot of neat infrastructure going into egcs which will enable alot of Merced-specific optimizations to take place once a Merced back-end is written.
I would be willing to bet Intel is working on an egcs port to Merced (even if they haven't mentioned it publicly). The IBM Haifa scheduler and a number of other features of egcs are right up Merced's alley. Software pipelining, better pointer disambiguation, better scheduling, etc... all play into Merced's strengths.
ROTFL!
I thought HP was doing that...
screw intel. Alpha is the way to go. We need more big name vendors behind both Linux and Alpha.
no K6-3's or K6-2's either. But they do sell those PIII's that all slashdotters drool over, right?
Yeah, with that lovely serial number...look at me drool.. *barf*
Why a company that screws the hardware of computers
together would do this port is beyond me.
Frankly I'm develloping a dislike for all the hype and
commercialism that are so effectively spread here on slashdot.
Decision One took over hardware support for Power Computing boxes after Apple bought Power's cloning rights. A little while ago I called D1 to try to get a replacement for a fried Power mobo and they quoted me $410. I ended up finding a nice place out west that would sell me one for $195. Hopefully that's just an expensive Mac kinda issue and D1 won't charge out the ass for VARes parts.
If you don't want the GUI don't use it! Why are
you fscks so hell bent on denying a good OS to
the unwashed masses?
I think this is of some relevence, its pretty cool really www.pr0nsite.com/pics
Too bad Compaq bought Digital; from the MS trial it is obvious that the PC-centric Compaq is bedding with MS.
Has anyone else noticed that the Alpha OEM page has remained static for what seems forever? Does Compaq even care about Alpha anymore?
Actually, HP seems to be demoing Linux/ia64 at
Linux World Expo booth. It's all very low-key,
so you have to ask for seeing the demo, but it
is there.
Our company finally managed to drop our support contract with D1. They were billing us for about 100 devices that had been taken out of service. Lot's of problems with sending their techs to replace a printer only to have it swapped with another working one, which would generate a second support call. One of the last straws was a onsite tech was showing a nurse how to hit her printer to keep it printing. Truly the worst company I have ever worked with. (except TCI)
"He said he held out for the new owner's guarantee that the open-source spirit would be upheld. "I had better offers, but I didn't want Linux.com to be exploited solely for commercial purposes." That's because he wanted to exploit it all by himself. A huge chunk of cash and a position on the 'board of directors'... Stupid fuck.
Apart from Compaq (who seems content with that gawdawfully titled Tru64 Unix and Windows NT), other 'big-name' vendors like Samsung and Alpha-Processor Inc. are really pushing NT and giving Linux the stroke...
It's obvious that NT can never realize the potential of Alpha.
We need more Alpha Linux users so demand for Alphas cause the vendors to take more notice.
The Kernel is GPL. The Merced Specs are NDAd. Does anyone else see a problem here? Just because VA is a linux company doesn't give them permission to ignore the licsence. That's ENTIRELY against the GPL, and the whole point BEHIND free software.
The Retards.
They better not try this, I'd hate to have to advocate legal action against them.
The GPL actually makes NDA setups really hard to
arrange. To an extent Sam is right, but its a very
limited case. In the Merced case HP have already
been explicit that their work will become GPL.
Intel starting another port with VA seems very
silly.
From the propaganda Compaq sent with my offer "The AMT group is also the gatekeeper of the Alpha architecture". AMT is Advanced eMerging Technologies, and is mostly concerned with NT and their x86 "emulator". I have no idea what this really means, but it sounds scary...
Intel wants to protect information about Merced
until it is officially released, thus the NDAs.
Those who wish to have their products support
Merced right when it is released would sign the
NDA. After the processor is released, the NDAs
wouldn't make much sense. So stating that VA
Research has to sign an NDA to port the kernel
means that the port is official, and they cannot
disclose any information until the processor's
release.
Ok, about the GUI concept..
To move a mouse, you need to use your *whole* arm!
To type, you only use your fingers. Also, you can
(if your good) use all 10 of them!
Move your back and forth as fast as you can.
Then, move your whole arm back and forth. Which
can you move faster? Multiply the difference
by ten. The mouse is a bottlneck between the
brain and machine. Sure, a mouse is useful but
sadly enough it remains just a feeble crutch for the drooling masses.
>Does anyone that KNOWS how to use a computer want a point and click OS?
Yes, I would have to say I know how to use a computer, and I see benefits in a nice graphical UI. In addition, one should not need to know the intimate details of a computer use one. Do you know how to program, digital electronics and physics? More to the point, should you need to know these things just for the priviledge of using a computer? I don't know the dirty details of the internal combustion engine but they still let me have a driver's licence.
>i actually like being one of the select few that are "enlightened" to the linux way.
It is unfortunate that the end all and be all of some people's lives are that they learned to execute commands in a unix shell, to hack C, or to use the shift key. To others these are just tools which are sometimes useful. I know how to get around Linux, I upgraded my system regularly for a couple of years using tar'd sources of libc, ld and friends. I now use Redhat packages instead. Why? Have I suddenly become ignorant, or subhuman? No, I have better things to do than me hack around on my system. It is nice to know how these things work, but I do not form my identity around this. Linux, X and gcc are tools I use, they are not part of my identity. In no way do I feel my identity or my masculinity has been comprised because my parents (who have little technical background) can now use Linux thanks a GUI DE projects like KDE and GNOME.
One shouldn't need a degree in computer science just to use a stable computer system. More users gives Linux a stronger presence, which means hardware vendors are more likely to support Linux (whether be opening specs or issuing binary drivers.) You may be happy with a text terminal but I'd like hardware accelerated Mesa to play around with. I'm sure you can find some productive may of expressing yourself, if you really like computers then write some software. You can be proud of that, and others can benefit. Just the fact that you can use a CL shell or that you know C does not make you a special person.
Dana Harrington
(dgharrin@ucalgary.ca)
"Although van Kempen has been using Linux since 1989"
bwahah... someone forgot to do their homework...
-AC, I've been surfing the web since 1956
Based on this information, it seems quite likely to me that Fred van Kempen may have personally profited more from Linux than any other Linux contributor to date.
By winning the domain name lottery.
It's a shame, because I can think of few less honorable ways to make money off of open source software.
"Why can't you just accept his oppinion w/o being ignorant?"
How 'bout learning to spell, bitch!
Anybody remember that Intel came out with the 386 in 1986 and then waited most of a decade until M$ came out with something like a 32-bit OS. Not this time. It looks like they are getting ready to support anything that will run on IA-64 when it is released. Considering what it is costing them and HP to design and fab this thing it really isn't all that much money to support concurrent Linux ports.
Yipe! Going with DecisionOne would be a horrible, horrible, horrible choice for VA Research. D1 is going down in flames, big time. They are hemorrhaging vice-presidents and IR staff, while the unwise merchant bankers who purchased them are pouring good cash after bad.
Reference: check out Bear Tracker, where they were the October Bear of the Month. Note that the stock is now regularly below $3.
Multiple people are leaving/have left middle- and high-level positions at D1 because it is very, very clear that nothing is going to change. They had yet another round of layoffs last month. The right hand hires while the left fires.
If anyone from VA Research is reading this, I would strongly advise looking up some of D1's previous and extremely disaffected customers. Or, their current and extremely disaffected customers.
Rumor is that January's revenues fell far short of the goals for their recovery plan - no reason to think that February will be different. There's a new CEO, but it still looks like business as usual....
the mouse was made for quake, they didn't know what they were doing at the time of its invention, but like evey great one, it grew into it's true calling. It really has no other 'real' pupose, but it has its use and i can accept that, you should too. the drooling masses use a joy(sp?)stick...
and i would bet it takes less time to click on a netscape icon than to type 'netscape &' but we wont consider that, cuz you could just alias it to the letter 'n'....or whatever trips your triger...
Because the creature works for Microsoft, that's why. A lot of MS supporters are now really scared that it looking like linux and the OSS/Free Software movement is really in it for the long haul now. They could afford to laugh the whole thing of as some kind of joke. Those days are now fast coming to an end now, and we in the OSS/Free Software/or-what-ever-we-may-want-to-call-it movement will now have to start looking to the future and decide how to best proceed from here. If you think the last year has been something to see, just wait. The year 2000 should prove to a really wild ride for everybody...
Um, I am not saying that Linus should do this, but doesn't internic grant domains to trademark holders in the case of a dispute? I mean, $1-5 million is a lot of beer. This is rule is pretty clear in Section 9 of the Network Solutions' Domain Name Dispute Policy (Rev. 03).
Ken
Some posters here seem to have some misconceptions...
1) If a company or individual uses GPL code, but does not release their modifications in any form (ie. they use it purely internally), they are under no obligation to release any code.
2) Any NDA's with Intel to port Linux to the Merced apply during the pre-release period. Think about it for a second. Linus, Alan, et al. would never allow binary-only support for a processor, if it is technically possible in the first place.
As for them requiring an NDA to get the specs, I cannot object to that. The damn thing has not even been released yet. Now if they tried to keep things secret once the processor was released -- like a lot of video card, printer, and modem manufactuers do (*cough* ATI *cough*) it would be a different story.
Of course the practice of selectively giving out their pre-release specs so that one software company would have an advantage over another would also be kinda fishy, but in this case, Intel seems to be spreading their specs around to most of the operating system companies out there.
Very interesting rumour! Let's hope that Compaq doesn't decide to relegate the Alpha to its high-end Unix and VMS lines (with their attendent high prices).
;-)
Suppose Alpha-Processor Inc. and Samsung would then have no choice but to push Alpha Linux and *BSD ports
-Colin
A little birdie told me that the recent money that Intel has been dumping at VA is just to improve Microsoft's anti-trust trial. I normally don't go for conspiracy theories, but given Microsoft's ethics, it wouldn't suprise me.
After AmigaOS, OS/2, Linux and FreeBSD, you can try the Hurd. Nobody uses the Hurd, so you will
have something to feel superiour about.
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.
Ummm... Sorry for the nit pick, but if he's been using Linux since 1989... wasn't he using it a whole 2 years before it was even started? Simon
It seems to be a lot of money in support. The developers still keep their daytime jobs thou. Makes you wonder. I'm not against people getting rich;
but when someone provide code for free and someone else get rich, is that fair?
Since when did open source have anything to do with showing advertisements?
mice suck and so does anything except fvwm2
Who has laptops under $5K with Linux?? I personally couldn't afford any of VAR's computers so I guess I'm stuck building my own from less-than-top-of-the-line parts. :-)
Yes but the sheep of the world buy Intel the same way they buy MS.
If you think a better processor will kill Intel, I have three words for you: Alpha, PPC, Sparc
No, I invented it in 1957
There was a conference last year that had Linus and and an Intel rep. The Intel guy was questioned about Intel on Merced. Linus jumpped in and said that It was a done deal.
Supposedly someone had signed an NDA and was working on a port. Does this mean that VA is duplicating effort?
I remember reading back in 1994 or 95 about a guy (could have been Dvorack(sp) actually) who bought up a bunch of domain names, like mcdonalds.com, for the standard $200 knowing full well that serveral years from then he could likely sell them off and make a killing. Heh, at the time he even called a bunch of McDonalds and asked if they had any problem with that. Obviously they were pretty clueless about the whole thing and let him have it. Well it turns out that I saw where he sold the mcdonalds domain about a year ago for like $30,000 ;) Now thats a good return on a $200 investment!
The dumbasses at DecisionOne couldn't fix a bad CD-ROM Drive... so I doubt they'll be any good at providing support for Linux. A Customer running Win98 had a CDRom which wouldn't work. They ordered a new motherboard saying the onboard IDE Controller was fried. I went out there and remarked out one line in the startup and it worked like normal.
I wouldn't trust DecisionOne with replacing a bad keyboard.
Linux is beeing ported to merced. HP is making
the port which started sometime last year.
It will run on the merced based hp workstations from day 1.
It already boots on a simulator, has a simulated scsi interface, has a simple shell an few vital commands. The compiler is egcs.
Those of you inside HP shold look at linux.hpl.hp.com.
Yeah, MS certainly can't afford that task on their own.
Actually, If you ask them nicely (or act bored)
at the development computer, they might show you
that kernel booting.
I can think of a dozen compiler efforts which were well funded and went nowhere.
And none of them were Cygnus solutions. You know, the egcs maintainers? The people who have a huge financial and personal investment in making gcc/egcs work? As far as I'm concerned, I trust Cygnus to produce top quality product once its all said and done. The fact that Intel ponied up the cash is just another indication of how likely success is: It's very unlikely that Intel would be throwing their cash at Some Random Bunch Of Guys to do the Merced compiler.
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
Send mail here if you want to reach me.
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
Send mail here if you want to reach me.
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:
/. 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.
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
-W.W.
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 "cue the foo posts in 3, 2, 1..." posts will commence with no subsequent foo posts in 3, 2, 1...
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.
The "cue the foo posts in 3, 2, 1..." posts will commence with no subsequent foo posts in 3, 2, 1...
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!
Bitcoin pyramid: Join here: http://www.bitcoinpyramid.com/r/1427 it's FREE!
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.
All the technology in the world won't hide your lack of vision, talent, or understanding.
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.
- Sam Trenholme
The secret to enjoying Slashdot is to realize that it should not be taken too seriously.
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.
You have been assimilated.
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?
spawn_of_yog_sothoth
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. ;-)
This sig is false.
> 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.
-- Don't Tase me, bro!
If you were really under NDA, you wouldn't be able to tell us...poser!
;)
"Although we may build the technology that we define as tools, we must be vigilant that those tools do not define us."
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.
StylishPants.Org - Home of everything that's interesting, and nothing that's not.
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
Not only will they not deserve liberty or safety, Mr. Franklin, they will be DENIED both!
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? .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. ;)
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
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
he who has the fastest cart always has the best lie.
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