VA Linux files IPO, Intel invests in TurboLinux

Intel has reinforced its status as the sugar daddy of Linux developers with an investment in TurboLinux (formerly Pacific HiTech), whose primary focus in the past has been the Asain market. TurboLinux is however now building up it US operations. Meanwhile another Chipzilla Linux chick, VA Linux, has filed for IPO, as widely expected. Intel started the whole thing just over a year ago with one of its "small, undisclosed" investments in Red Hat (which itself has now successfully IPOed), and since then has played an important role in focussing attention on the Linux market. Intel's initial investment in Red Hat has been followed by investments by the company in other Linux companies, and has certainly encouraged numerous other industry heavyweights to put cash into Linux distributors. One could almost start to think of Intel as a kindly, forward-thinking, philanthropic company, if it wasn't for the fact that its "small, undisclosed" investments in this and other areas generally reap rich rewards. Intel certainly seems to know how to pick them, but considering its position as one of the major drivers of the industry's direction, you'd kind of expect it to know what was going to be mega, right? VA certainly falls into this category, because although its most recent numbers are grim enough to make you mistake it for a Web stock, it's engaged in the Trillian project, which is intended to implement Linux on IA-64. This has backing from Intel, IBM, HP, Uncle Tom Cobbleigh and all, and surely ought to be a long-term money-spinner. ®