“But even as employees of the Linux-based computer systems and
services provider dared to dream about what their new fortunes
might buy — a new car, a European vacation, a new house — they
knew what went up so quickly would have to come down. They just
didn’t realize how far and how fast. The history-making stock
closed down $2 yesterday, to $7.13, off 97 percent from its
all-time high of $242.88 on Dec. 17, 1999.
“While VA Linux has become a poster child for the Silicon Valley
downswing, its employees — who view their company as part of a
larger computing revolution — are remarkably stoic. Despite their
heavy dose of shock therapy, VA Linux employees seem to be holding
up just fine.”
“Part of the secret to employees’ equanimity in the face of
financial turmoil is their commitment to a cause. VA Linux is at
the heart of the open-source software movement, which is
dramatically changing the way software is developed and
distributed, namely freely and free. … For many in the
open-source movement, it’s never been about the money. It’s about
changing the world. Or at least how the world computes.”