The WAN Show – Episode: "I'm Not The Only CEO That Got Fired" (December 6, 2024)

Release Date: December 7, 2024

1. Intel CEO Retirement and Company Direction

Linus Sebastian opens the episode by addressing the recent retirement of Intel's CEO, Pat Gelsinger. The hosts delve into the challenges Intel faced under Gelsinger's leadership, particularly regarding the company's ambitious plans to compete with TSMC in advanced chip manufacturing.

• Linus Sebastian [04:25]:

  "The plan was very clear. The plan was we're going to build fabs... this was because they didn't let him execute, and booted him out."

• Dan [07:00]:

  "Yeah, I do think there were other missteps."

The discussion highlights Intel's structural issues, lack of investment in R&D, and the frustration over the company's inability to deliver finished products during Gelsinger's tenure. The hosts express sympathy for Gelsinger, believing he wasn't given adequate time to implement his vision.

2. Intel’s BattleMage GPUs Announcement

Despite the turmoil at the executive level, Intel unveiled their new BattleMage series GPUs, aiming to provide affordable options for mid-tier gamers.

• Linus Sebastian [13:43]:

  "B580 12 gig card coming in at 250 bucks."

• Dan [15:27]:

  "This is me saying, not based on anything that we may or may not know. This is me saying purely off of what they have published, the price seems good."

The BattleMage GPUs are positioned as competitive alternatives to existing mid-range offerings, boasting features like a 10% performance lead over NVIDIA's RTX 4060 and superior software enhancements such as XeSS (Intel’s super sampling technology).

3. Hexos Announcement and Community Backlash

The episode shifts focus to Hexos, a new product launched by Linus Media Group. Hexos, built atop TrueNAS, received significant negative feedback from the community, citing high prices, perceived lack of value, and concerns over future promises.

• Dan [26:14]:

  "Feedback from Hexos stuff was notably negative... they hate paying for future promises."

• Linus Sebastian [29:00]:

  "I think the biggest difference is that I actually know what these guys are about... I'm pretty confident that they are going to get to that 1.0 milestone without any difficulty."

Linus and Dan acknowledge the valid criticisms but defend Hexos by emphasizing its foundation on TrueNAS and the team's commitment to delivering a reliable product. They encourage potential users to try Hexos with the assurance of a 30-day refund policy.

4. Floatplane’s RGB Fur Jacket Showcase

Adding a lighter segment, the hosts showcase a custom RGB fur jacket created by the Floatplane team. The jacket features over a thousand individually addressable LEDs, controllable via Wi-Fi, and represents the creativity and technical prowess of the community.

• Dan [20:48]:

  "It's like, actually pretty sick."

• Linus Sebastian [22:41]:

  "Nate spent about five hours soldering LED strips... Tatiana hand-stitched the interfacing."

The segment highlights the collaborative effort and enthusiasm within the community, showcasing how technical projects can merge with creative fashion.

5. General Discussions and Personal Anecdotes

Throughout the episode, Linus, Dan, and Luke engage in various light-hearted conversations, sharing personal experiences, discussing favorite movies, and interacting with the audience's comments.

• Linus Sebastian [60:00]:

  "I have zero nostalgia for it."

• Dan [78:26]:

  "But I do think there's a lot of people that are not amenable to paying $300 for software, even if they will use it forever."

These segments offer listeners a glimpse into the hosts' personalities, interests, and the dynamic interplay that characterizes the WAN Show.

6. Announcements and Merch Messages

The episode concludes with updates on new merchandise, promotions, and community events. The hosts humorously navigate through ad segments, promoting sponsors like Backblaze, Squarespace, and Manscaped.

• Linus Sebastian [53:02]:

  "Our tees are soft and comfortable, and most importantly, we designed them to last..."

• Dan [95:31]:

  "Hey, lld I have the opportunity to go to CES next month..."

These announcements keep the community informed about the latest offerings and encourage continued engagement with Linus Media Group.

Conclusion

In this episode, Linus and Luke navigate through the turbulent waters of Intel's leadership changes, the optimistic yet criticized launch of Hexos, and a creative showcase by the Floatplane team. Balancing serious industry discussions with personal anecdotes and community highlights, "I'm Not The Only CEO That Got Fired" offers a comprehensive look into the current state and future prospects of the technology landscape.

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to maintain focus on the episode's key discussions and insights.