Comment by spookie
2 days ago
Intel embraced Linux when they bet big in datacenters in early 2002. The momentum they got from there, with Linux dominating the sector, made them realize how much of a benefit it is to have a free software stack. With Linux they were able to go head to head with the incumbents of the day.
Linux and x86 became unbeatable in the space for 20 years.
They have known how important it is. They won't forget.
Yes, however, they first made their hardware standard compliant rather than making their driver open source.
The open source part came later, starting with CPU and chipset support, then Ethernet, then GPUs IIRC.
The biggest and sweetest side-effect is Desktop/Personal use Linux support as long as the hardware doesn't do anything janky, or too janky.
Fair enough