VA Linux Dropping "Linux" From Name

Several folks noted that VA is changing its name to "VA Software" to reflect the fact that they aren't a Linux company anymore. VA of course owns OSDN which runs various Linux and Open Source web sites including amusingly enough Linux.com. Can't say it matters much to me what they call the thing as long as they let us keep running Slashdot, but it really is sad knowing that most of the cool open source hackers no longer work there. My bad. Anyone have a link to the press release that doesn't require a login?

Re:should name it...

[NecroPuppy]

Nasdaq doesn't delist until you go under $1.

And even then, they aren't delisting anyone until January, due to the events of 9/11.

Re:Did they work there?

[HitchHik]

Well lets see, as far as I know at least:
Thodore Tso - ext2 and kernel
Stephen Tweedie - file systems
and I belive
Rasterman - enlightenment
worked for VA

Re:Did they work there?-correction

[HitchHik]

I messed up:
Tweedie works for Redhat.

Re:should name it...

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

"Nasdaq doesn't delist until you go under $1."

Actually, before 9/11, Nasdaq would, in theory, delist a company if it traded for under $1 for more than 30 days. In reality, they did allow many companies trading for under a buck to be listed for a lot longer (like Caldera for example).

Re:Are they still LNUX?

[jlitvin]

You did follow the link, didn't you? Anyway, the WSJ article says, "If shareholders approve the proposed name at the company's annual meeting Dec. 5, the company said it intends to change its Nasdaq trading symbol."

Re:Are they still LNUX? No

[ecampbel]

According to their press release [excite.com]:

If the proposed name change is approved, the company intends to change its Nasdaq trading symbol. Shareholders will vote on the proposal at the company's annual meeting on Dec. 5.

Re:Great for the stock price!!!

[Kymermosst]

Sounds really intelligent there! The company's going to fail, so sell off all your stock so it'll fail sooner! Self-serving people make me sick.

What?! If I put money into a company, it's on the supposition that I will receive dividends from that company, eventually totalling more than the initial investment in the company, or it is on the supposition that the company's stock will be in so much demand that the paper value of my investment will increase.

When neither one of those is happening, and it is clear that the company's future is in question, I have the right to take my investment back. When I buy stock, I do not give that money to the company, I loan the money to it. Since it is MY fscking money in the first place, invested on the faith that it will give me an income, I can take it back whenever I feel that my interests are not being met. (Read: interest.)

So, if it's so self-serving to invest money wisely only in successful companies, on the basis of earning a living and planning for my retirement in the future, well, I suppose I'll continue to make you sick, because you can bet your bleeding heart that I'm not going to ride stock into the ground and lose ALL of my investment. Why do this when I can sell it off?

Re:The Question that Begs Asking

[jon_c]

If taco's smart then yes.

a site I won't mention is run by a friend of mine, he actually makes his living off it. Its just a gamers news site, but he actually makes enough money off it to have a car (BMW btw), have a nice apartment and live life.

The catch is he has about 1 1/2 employees. so his revenue pretty much comes down to:

$income = $bandwidth + $other_guy - $ad_revenue;

..there isn't much in the way of other costs.

So if taco decides he and someone else can run the show (which they should be able too) slashdot should be able to get by, it won't be glorious and may not be able to sponsor guest writers like Mr. Katz, but they should able to keep the site up and maybe buy some food.

-Jon

Re:Great for the stock price!!!

[leonbev]

Having your stock delisted also has a signifigant impact on a company's credit rating. The company would then have a harder time getting a loan if it runs low on cash, and will pay a higher interest rate for that loan if it is necessary.

It should also be mentioned that many businesses are afraid to work with a company that has the perception of going out of business in a few months. They will sign fewer long-term contracts or partnerships for their products and services, and almost no one will want to count on them as a support provider.

This is why over 90% of all companies fail after being delisted from a major stock exchange. It often starts a devistating chain-reaction which ultimately leads to bankruptcy.

Wrong URL

[Merk]

Wrong URL. The link to the register article is: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/22559.html [theregister.co.uk]. Or you could just read the article at Kuro5hin: http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2001/10/31/15654/175 [kuro5hin.org]

According to Kuro5hin's story, it was Roblimo who informed them they were getting the boot too. Inneresting.