VA Linux Systems Sends "The Letter"

synaptic was the first of several to note that "The Letter" offering Linux developers in on the VA Linux Systems IPO. Its a hefty 600k PDF file containing a prospectus, and a form to return to show interest. No word on how many people are getting the letter, but the rumors are that there will be quite a few.

Re:US Only?

No, it is not US-only. It looks like they have gone to quite a bit of trouble to make sure it is open to as many international developers as possible. At least from my quick read of the offer.

-Rasmus

Company Profile

http://biz.yahoo.com/ipo/p/lnux.html [yahoo.com]

Only 'cause Wall St. is on Smack

Ok, let's do the boogie on VA:

From one point of view, they're the oldest Linux OEM out there. They have pretty good sales and a decently growning market. On the other hand, they only sell Linux boxes. Because of this, they're missing out on a majority of the desktop and server markets.

Sane target price: $25.

Now, let's be realistic. They have the word "Linux" tied to their business plan, and every daytrader out there knows that Linux == Gold. I mean, look at RHAT (closed at 143 3/4) and COBT (129 1/2). Money money money money! Get rich quick! Buy now! The market will never go down, ever! Quick! Pass the crack!

Probably Target Price: $165

It's a sick, sick world.

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Re:Why I do NOT like this!

Because Linux is not about the money, and these people change that.

Who says Linux isn't about the money? As much as you or I may like to live in our little Utopian universe where things don't cost money and people do things simply for the good of each other, for Linux to advance in the marketplace and achieve the kind success that everyone wants it to have, it's going to have be about money, and people are slowly coming around to this. Individuals and communities don't deal with corporations; corporations deal with corporations and most of the PC sales today (which desperately need stability and innovation like Linux provides) are in business, not home, not development .. business.

I would much rather have a whole slew of corporations make sure that their wealth somehow gets dispersed to the very community that creates to the product and call it a 'trend' than have a whole slew of corporations that take the community's product and give nothing back. As far as I'm concerned, something like this should be required. Don't look at it as the companies doing something special, look at it as the companies doing something proper. Then maybe you'll recognize why these 'letters' (of which I've never gotten one and probably won't ever get one) are so valuable to the sustaining of Linux development as a community.

Redhat didn't establish a special moment. They established a precedent and I like this because it means other companies are following that precedent.

Re:What about Corel Linux

Well, CORL has nearly doubled in the last couple of months. Problem is, without an IPO, they're not as visible. Also, when people see Corel, they think WordPerfect or Corel Draw. When people see Cobalt, they wonder who it is, then go and look it up and see the magic word "Linux"

Re:who's getting the letters?

quoting from the Letter, they culled:

1. ...Contributor lists from major Linux or related open source projects. These projects included Debian, KDE, GNOME, GTK+, Python the GIMP and many others.
2. ...VA has a number of Linux Community members in it's ranks, they were asked for their input.

The lucky recipients have a chance at buying exactly 100 shares at the IPO price, without the hassle that E*Trade insisted on -- no background checks or investment savviness questionaires, just fill out the enclosed form. If you get in, send them a check later....

The NASDAQ symbol is LNUX. :-)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those who didn't get "the letter" (including me) and don't have million dollar accounts, you can try to get in on the deal with some online brokerage firms. (Etrade, for example)

Someone moderate that post 'Funny'. Sir, your suggestion that E*TRADE is going to underwrite this IPO is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. I can assure you that VA Linux was definitely in the loop, and they are acutely aware of the spectacular results of E*TRADE's last venture in underwriting a Linux-related IPO. In fact, I have a link somewhere to a CNET interview, which happened shortly after RHAT started trading, of VA Research tactfully promising to "avoid" the same mistakes.

I'm pretty confident that nobody in the Linux world will want to have to do ANYTHING with E*TRADE, for a long, long time.
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Too many whiners....

I'm seeing a lot of messages in this thread whining about who did and did not get "the letter". Most troubling are the messages from people who are complaining about how much they have done for the community, but still haven't got one of "the letters". Lets get realistic here folks. VA, RedHat etc all don't "owe" you one of "the letters". They don't owe you anything. These letters are a *gift* to the community.

No one has a "right" to a gift. No one is "owed" a gift. If you get a gift, be grateful. If you don't, be grateful for all the things you do have.

Neither RedHat, nor VA should ever have to explain *why* they chose the people they did to get the letter. They've done the best the could to identify they people they wanted, for whatever reason, to give thanks to. Obviously this effort cannot be perfect. Some people will be left out. Deal with it.

And stop acting like a damn spoiled child!!!