VA Linux

[Warren Togami]

(repost because it rejected my message again)

While I'm am very pro-Athlon, I wouldn't consider it entirely their fault
for not making Athlon systems.  It would have increased their quality
assurance costs to be sure that they sell reliable Athlon servers.  The
chipsets, CPU's and related errata are completely different from their Intel
product lines (not any worse or better though).  There is also the fact that
the Athlon was very new and unproven for most of their company's post-IPO
days.  AMD did not have any CPU's or chipsets targetted for the workstation
or server market until very recently with their Palomino core and Athlon MP
processors.  VA Linux saw the opportunity and hired Appro to design an
excellent 1U super integrated server.

They tried... but they ran out of money.

----- Original Message -----
From: "W. Wayne Liauh" <LiauhW001 at hawaii.rr.com>
To: "Linux & Unix Advocates & Users" <luau at list.luau.hi.net>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 6:50 AM
Subject: [luau] Re: VA Linux


> One of worst mistakes made by VA management was to adopt the Intel-only
> policy for its x86 configurations.  Since Dell is getting all the
> exclusive breaks from Intel, no one can outsell Dell (not even HP or
> Compaq, or Gateway) on Intel units.  (A Celeron workstation for over
> $1,000?  Linux or not, they must be out of their mind!)
>
> After Appro (a Korean company) bought the server technology from VA, it
> immediately converted to and began promoting dual Athlon servers.  Based
> on what I heard from those who attended the SF LinuxWorld, Appro is now
> doing very well.
>
> I believe it would have been a very different story if VA decided to
> further develop dual-Athlon servers for now, and multiple-Hammer servers
> in the future.
>