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"LinuxOne" files for an IPO

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wed Sep 22, 1999 04:53 PM
from the who-are-these-guys dept.
ColPanek writes "Surprise: The newest planned Linux-related IPO is not VA Linux Systems or LinuxCare, but a company called LinuxOne, which apparently has been shipping its own distro since way back in September 1999 ... This summary of their preliminary prospectus says LinuxOne didn't disclose any underwriters for the proposed offering."
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  • Re:Fascinating Tidbits... by Tim (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:27AM
  • Long track record by drox (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:27AM
  • Re:Let's see... by Joe MacDonald (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:40PM
  • Re:must be a troll by kerskine (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:40PM
  • Judge their site, fine. Be consistent though? by drix (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:28AM
  • IPO. by Matt2000 (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:29AM
  • One more tidbit by XiRho (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:29AM
  • Re:Judge their site, fine. Be consistent though? by drix (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:30AM
  • "linux one" and mandrake soft and that trans thing by rogerbo (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:35AM
  • Re:Let's see... by Sir Timothy (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:25PM
  • SGI get it right by Jon Peterson (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:54PM
  • LinuxOne BADLY in need a site redesign... by theFerret (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:18PM
  • by el_diablo (88968) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @08:07AM (#1666392)
    linux one's website looks like a my first html experiment. i wouldn't even bbuy a distro from the these jokers let alone invest in their 'failure waiting to happen' future. I wonder if their mother's know they are having an IPO. dont you need to be like 17 or something.
  • Okay, _who_ are they again? by Tony Tastey (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @08:08AM
  • Re:from the "Products" page... by Black Parrot (Score:1) Thursday September 23 1999, @03:42AM
  • Talk about IPO Bandwagon. by jelwell (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @08:26AM
  • Let's see... (Score:5)

    by mrsam (12205) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @08:35AM (#1666398) Homepage

    ... Company has existed since March, 1999.

    ... Their web site is a total joke.

    ... Their web server is a stock Red Hat Linux box. They don't even serve their pages off their own alleged Linux distribution.

    ... Despite their claim of being a US company, linuxone.com is registered to some outfit in Austria.

    ... Despite their so-called "free download", they will ask people for $9.95.

    ... Their order page is a ... BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHA ... a formmail CGI script. I'll bet a lot of people are perfectly comfortable sending their credit card number over the Internet in clear text.

    If this isn't a big joke, I don't know what is.
    --

  • They need a legal department by KnightStalker (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @08:37AM
  • Re:More info on founder and directors (from S1) by ColPanek (Score:1) Thursday September 23 1999, @05:01AM
  • Talk about IPO Bandwagon. by jelwell (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @08:37AM
  • Compuglobalsuperhypermeganet by delmoi (Score:1) Thursday September 23 1999, @06:48AM
  • Re:Let's see... by scumdamn (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:02AM
  • Transmeta by delmoi (Score:1) Thursday September 23 1999, @06:50AM
  • Make $$$ fast!! by starling (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:38AM
  • Netcraft... by Fnkmaster (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:36AM
  • Re:Fascinating Tidbits... by stump (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:38AM
  • linuxone.NET?? by Roofus (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:39AM
  • by Flammon (4726) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:41AM (#1666412) Homepage Journal
    The S-1 [freeedgar.com] where it says
    OUR RELIANCE ON THE SUPPORT OF LINUX TORVALDS AND OTHER PROMINENT LINUX DEVELOPERS COULD IMPAIR OUR ABILITY TO RELEASE MAJOR PRODUCT UPGRADES AND ESTABLISH MARKET SHARE.
    Ya that's for sure. You'll never be able to rely on good ole Linux Torvald, today or ever. He doesn't exist you bunch of clowns!
  • Re:Let them by WebMistress (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:42AM
  • Massive Conspiracy by XiRho (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:42AM
  • must be a troll by Anonymous Coward (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:42AM
  • Re:More info on founder and directors (from S1) by untulis (Score:1) Thursday September 23 1999, @12:14PM
  • Their Jobs listing is copied verbatim from Red Hat by Guy Smiley (Score:1) Saturday September 25 1999, @04:17PM
  • Makes Linux companies look bad? by Foogle (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:51AM
  • Too bad we can't short an IPO by Pika (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:52AM
  • You can quote this... by Uart (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:52AM
  • by WebMistress (72354) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:53AM (#1666428)
    So the site is obviously done by an editor... code like this:

    www.
    LinuxOne.net


    Give me a break!

    The company is located 3 miles from my house... I'll swing by tonight and see if it's a Mailboxes, etc. address. I can tell you that it's right on the rail road tracks... prime real estate!
  • Re:Which IPO is sillier? by NatePuri (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:54AM
  • Re:Teenage kids? by psaltes (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:54AM
  • Re:Life Imitates The Simpsons by warrior (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:58AM
  • Re:Too bad we can't short an IPO by Uart (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:59AM
  • Re:Which IPO is sillier? by m3000 (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:04AM
  • Re:Fascinating Tidbits... by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:09AM
  • Tomorrow's News on www.LinuxOne.net by JordanH (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:28PM
  • whois says they didn't exist before 21-Apr-99 by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:16AM
  • Re:Make $$$ fast!! - Method3 by _Sprocket_ (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:29PM
  • Hillarious by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:18AM
  • Proprietary drivers in the Linux kernel by Zach Frey (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:33PM
  • by untulis (30874) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:22AM (#1666442) Homepage

    Go click on the About LinuxOne [linuxone.net] on the cheesy website.

    Stan Kawczynski is the Company's Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. He also serves as Vice President of Investments for Birchtree Financial Services, Inc., a member NASD/SIPC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Block Financial Corporation, with offices in Sunnyvale and San Rafael, California and Kansas City, Missouri. From 1993 to 1995, he was Vice President of Government Affairs, as well as the Director and Chairman of the Board of Trilogy Systems, Inc., a new business opportunities incubator company.

    Now go visit the Sunnyvale City Council [sunnyvale.ca.us] webpage and a certain one Mr. Stan Kawczynski's bio [sunnyvale.ca.us]

    PROFESSION

    BK & Company, Insurance Marketing - Partner

    Birchtree Financial Services, Vice President - Investments

    Curious that an elected government official would be engaging in this kind of activity. True, there's nothing illegal here. But it sure smells funny...

    For those of you who don't know, Sunnyvale [sunnyvale.ca.us] is the "heart of Silicon Valley"[tm] (their words, not mine)

    Jason "former Sunnyvale resident" Untulis
  • Re:This one's a winner! by _Sprocket_ (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:34PM
  • Vaporware by dieMSdie (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:44PM
  • Re:Massive Conspiracy by Sun Tzu (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:50PM
  • Re:Wow. by Tenareth (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:25AM
  • Re:Teenage kids? by Wheat (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:31AM
  • by TurkishGeek (61318) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:36AM (#1666454)
    I am copying a comment from the talkback section on LinuxToday. This gentleman is really pissed..
    Read this:


    "I really get sick of all the "SMUG KNOW-IT-ALL" attitude comming from some of the members of the LINUX Community! If you'd do a little research before confirming the opinion of some the folks watching the Linux Commununity (bunch of pimply faced teenagers), you'd know that LINUXONE is doing a Chinese translation of LINUX MANDRAKE Distro for the main-land Chinese market. A huge and very worth-while and possibly very lucritave endeavor. Before you run your mouth, ENGAGE YOUR BRAIN!

    Keep in mind: YOU ALWAYS FIND THE MOST STICKS AND STONES UNDER THE TREE WITH BEST APPLES ON IT!

    Regards,
    George"


    Looks like they have managed to find some hardcore fans on the first day..this is even more ridiculous...
  • I called him... by Anonymous Coward (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:37AM
  • Re:The part I like is ... by Unclaimed Mysteries (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:37AM
  • Re:web-site definitely created on MS by el jefe (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:41AM
  • The Owner.... by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:44AM
  • Re:Fascinating Tidbits... by bergie (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @01:46PM
  • Re:Too bad we can't short an IPO by Moooo Cow (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:45AM
  • Re:Life Imitates The Simpsons by BrianB (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:49AM
  • Re:Judge their site, fine. Be consistent though? by Russ Steffen (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @01:47PM
  • $17,000 to make $23 Million? by mecca (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @01:59PM
  • Re:Founder seems kind of shady by Reziac (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @02:09PM
  • Those graphics are straight outta Microsoft Word by Sensei^ (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @02:11PM
  • logistics by RoLlEr_CoAsTeR (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:44AM
  • Which IPO is sillier? by Zico (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:48AM
  • Yes. by mindstrm (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:49AM
  • Re:quick get the bandwagon by exodus2 (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:52AM
  • Some Site by Beli (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:56AM
  • Re:Let's see... (Score:4)

    by nsanch (43204) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:56AM (#1666479) Homepage
    I think I have to point out that they're located at linuxone.net, not linuxone.com, so they're actually based in Mountain View, CA, not Austria.

    Still fubar tho.
  • by AxelBoldt (1490) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @09:58AM (#1666480) Homepage
    A quick deja search revealed this message [deja.com] in which somebody complains about being spammed from a domain owned by Dr. Chiou. The spam is for Windows software.

    This is pretty funny.

    --

  • Good God Man! by Praxxis (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:49AM
  • news.com picks this up as legit? by augustz (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:49AM
  • Re:I called him... (Score:3)

    by kevcol (3467) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:54AM (#1666483) Homepage
    Well, the 415 area code was valid for Mountain View until the Peninsula split off into a 650 area code. And as it is a 948 prefix, it corresponds with Mt. View numbers. Since you work in Mt. View, leave out the area code. He has a bunch of domains listed, so the whois info has probably never been updated.

  • Re:The part I like is ... by Johnath (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:55AM
  • Shouldn't that be in the S1? by raph (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @11:57AM
  • Re:WebCoder Extraordinaires by kevcol (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:00PM
  • I just called... by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:02PM
  • Re:Okay, _who_ are they again? by headkick (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @02:18PM
  • It's a bogus IPO affinity scam! by alien_investor (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:15PM
  • Re:Which IPO is sillier? by DeathBunny (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @02:30PM
  • Re:Netcraft... by kevcol (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @12:25PM
  • What effect will this have....? by Pika (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @02:39PM
  • This guy isn't too bad by Nou (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @02:50PM
  • Let them by Foogle (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:00AM
  • Re:Make $$$ fast!! by starling (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:01AM
  • by pluteus_larva (13980) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:02AM (#1666504) Homepage
    The sad opening to the LinuxOne page [linuxone.net] (once you can finally connect) was written by Dr. Wun C. Chiou, the founder. He also founded a company now known as NetUSA [netusa.com], whose stock [yahoo.com] is currently hovering around zero.

    This sounds like a baaaaaad investment to me...
  • Interesting: agreement with Linux Mandrake by joe52 (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:06AM
  • Strategic Relationship with MandrakeSoft ??????? by Beli (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:08AM
  • This one's a winner! by GnrcMan (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:08AM
  • Just some kiddie on his adsl line by Anonymous Coward (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:10AM
  • by XiRho (91952) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:12AM (#1666509) Homepage
    1) The banners on the pages of LinuxOne.net are quite obviously created in Word. A Windows product, by MS, no less. What, The GIMP was too complicated?

    2) The page was written in Frontpage, or atleast some of the subtle hints, for instance, in the source there is a charset/content type tag, any webmeister who knew these tags existed yet still made such a crappy page could only be doing it in FP, which inserts such tags into any page by default.

    3) The webserver they are running isn't Apache, atleast, according to Netcraft [netcraft.com], which says it's running "inetd in realloc(): warning, junk pointer too low to make sense"

    4) According to the InterNIC whois database, the man who registered Linuxone.net has an address at Netusa.com, a man who can't set up sendmail is going to build a Linux distro worth 28,000,000? Hmmm...

    "If you don't use windows then what do you use?"
    "FreeBSD."

  • Re:Some Site by kimflournoy (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:15AM
  • Re:Fascinating Tidbits... by Jeff Monks (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @03:12PM
  • Hopefully A Useful Failure by Christopher B. Brown (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @03:29PM
  • Re:What effect will this have....? by ansible (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @03:44PM
  • Re:I called him... by aip (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @03:58PM
  • Re:web-site definitely created on MS by kevcol (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @03:59PM
  • S-1 plagiarism? by Brian See (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @05:16PM
  • 1 more interesting find... by md17 (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @05:26PM
  • More info on founder and directors (from S1) by Brian See (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @05:27PM
  • Re:Let's see... by Maddux (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @06:07PM
  • Re:This one's a winner! by chromatic (Score:2) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:17AM
  • by Ralph Wiggam (22354) on Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:22AM (#1666524) Homepage
    Does this remind anyone else of Homer Simpson starting the ISP because "Everyone is making money off the internet except me"?

    On a semi-serious note: two things could happen if the SEC actually lets these guys offer stock.

    1) Nobody buys it, the IPO tanks, and Wall Street has a slightly lower opinion of upcoming IPOs like VA and LinuxCare.

    2) Morons (see: mutual fund managers) buy a ton of LinuxOne stock, remembering the word "Linux" from a Red Hat press release and noticing the three digit share price next to RHAT. In three months when the earnings report is released with the entries "Income: Allowance $20 / Expenses: Kegger $4,329", the stock plummets. At that point, the Wall Street hive mind concludes "Huh, that Linux fad sure ended quickly". After that, VA or LinuxCare might not be able to get together ANY sort of IPO.

    Open question to anyone with a background in finance: Are there any rules about what companies can and can't be publicly traded? Is it one of those capitalist "let the market decide" kind of deals?

    Will LinuxOne be sending out "The Letter II"?

    -Barry
  • Re:Let's see... by rjreb (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:25AM
  • Re:quick get the bandwagon by sweetooth (Score:1) Wednesday September 22 1999, @10:25AM
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