4 ms·

In the long run, possibly. In the medium run (first 2-5 years) it’s not cheaper. In the short run? Buying Linode gave them a foothold in the market. Creating

In the long run, possibly. In the medium run (first 2-5 years) it’s not cheaper. In the short run? Buying Linode gave them a foothold in the market. Creating it from scratch, would have taken months (or even years) to be able to make the first offer, and years until they built a reputation that would attract customers.

chaosite 4y ago
> a reputation that would attract customers. But the whole point is that they're throwing away any of Linode's existing reputation in favor of banking on the Akamai name.
- ubermonkey 4y ago
  ....and probably not caring that for a significant chunk of folks, swapping small firm for HUGE firm is absolutely a downgrade.
- beagle3 4y ago
  But they are starting with a customer base, some of which have been with Linode for over a decade. Way easier and faster to build reputation from that as a starting point. (And also already cash flow positive and profitable, ignoring the purchase=setup cost)
  - tchvil 4y ago
    Exactly, we are happy client for more than 14 years. And don't plan to move if they keep what Linode was good at. I mean when it is setup, except extremely rare migrations, you forget about it.
    - chaosite 4y ago
      > if they keep what Linode was good at. Yeah, but that's the big if, isn't it? Once they enact changes which require action on your part (sunsetting services, changing prices, ...), you'll probably move, or at least seriously consider it.
  - nocman 4y ago
    I think that's a lot of the point here. They won't be starting with that customer base if most of that customer base leaves because of these changes (which I think a significant portion of them may).
    - Sophira 4y ago
      I've been with Linode since 2004, and this is making me seriously consider other providers.
      - nocman 4y ago
        Yes, as I recall, when Rackspace ruined Slicehost, a lot of people moved to Linode. I am guessing the same thing is likely to happen to Linode now. I'm just not sure if there is as clear a choice for a new company as it seemed to be when a lot of people moved from Slicehost to Linode.
nemacol 4y ago
I think these acquisitions are partly about the customer base and infrastructure but I believe a big part is getting the staff - existing functional highly skilled.

chaosite 4y ago

> a reputation that would attract customers. But the whole point is that they're throwing away any of Linode's existing reputation in favor of banking on the Akamai name.

ubermonkey 4y ago
....and probably not caring that for a significant chunk of folks, swapping small firm for HUGE firm is absolutely a downgrade.
beagle3 4y ago
But they are starting with a customer base, some of which have been with Linode for over a decade. Way easier and faster to build reputation from that as a starting point. (And also already cash flow positive and profitable, ignoring the purchase=setup cost)
- tchvil 4y ago
  Exactly, we are happy client for more than 14 years. And don't plan to move if they keep what Linode was good at. I mean when it is setup, except extremely rare migrations, you forget about it.
  - chaosite 4y ago
    > if they keep what Linode was good at. Yeah, but that's the big if, isn't it? Once they enact changes which require action on your part (sunsetting services, changing prices, ...), you'll probably move, or at least seriously consider it.
- nocman 4y ago
  I think that's a lot of the point here. They won't be starting with that customer base if most of that customer base leaves because of these changes (which I think a significant portion of them may).
  - Sophira 4y ago
    I've been with Linode since 2004, and this is making me seriously consider other providers.
    - nocman 4y ago
      Yes, as I recall, when Rackspace ruined Slicehost, a lot of people moved to Linode. I am guessing the same thing is likely to happen to Linode now. I'm just not sure if there is as clear a choice for a new company as it seemed to be when a lot of people moved from Slicehost to Linode.

nemacol 4y ago

I think these acquisitions are partly about the customer base and infrastructure but I believe a big part is getting the staff - existing functional highly skilled.