Well, you're making a hypothetical point that someone might want 8 x 128mb nodes, and thus my request - taken to its logical extreme - is invalid. On the other hand I'm saying that in practice you can't host much of anything on a 128mb box, but can on a 512.

The bottom line is Linode are currently valuing a given fraction (1/40th?) of their hardware at $20. Why wouldn't you sell 1/80ths (which still have excellent utility) at $10 to multiple-server customers on the basis that they won't generate any extra support overheads.

Someone is going to do this. Certain rivals are even cheaper than $10 as you point out, but just thinking about using them to run my business gives me cold sweats.

But that's why you're at Linode. And this is how things are here.

Linode has decided they don't want to go below $20 plans. I don't think it's a money issue that would get solved by saying "well, then group two of them together". I think it's the issue that Linode could experience exponential growth very, VERY quickly. If I were a company that provided amazing support like Linode, that would scare me. Again, I don't think it's a money issue. I think it's an issue with the number of hosts.

No, I am not. Someone would. The thing is Linode has to decide where to cut off the line. Many people will disagree with where that line is drawn. Linode has drawn it at $20. FYI, a 128MB server would be sufficient for an IRC server, a simple web server, mail server, DNS server, testing environment, small database server, hosting of certain games (yes nothing big), backup server configured and ready to go without data that would be re-sized if needed, and at least 1000 more uses.

Yes, yes, I know. But you couldn't do all of those at once on a 128 or 256. You can on a 512. 512 - on its own - is still a great product with excellent utility for practically all users.

A week ago practically everyone on this forum thought Linode 512 was the dogs gonads. I did too, apart from the price. Has Linode 512 become an antiquated server in just a week?

Decade-old companies in highly competitive industries rarely have to worry about exponential growth!

What if I want to create a new IRC network and want one 128 server in each facility. 256, or even 512 would be OVERKILL. 8 128 servers would work nicely for me. Point, set, match.

Edit: Just showing here there are reasons and people would start demanding/asking for it if linode started weird offerings like the one you want. Then linode would be like those other providers that make you sick thinking about them.

You're describing a corner case. I'm describing a base case.

Haha, believe it or not the case I just made would be in huge demand. An entire distributed IRC network for $20/month with 8 servers. That one example there would be great for many people. Its a strong "base" case. At least as "base" as what you are asking.

The thing you must realize is that everyone has different needs. Some people's needs are very very minimal. So low you could not ever imagine getting by with that.

It's been fun debating and I concede you're correct in theory. But no - in practice - people need LAMP stacks or derivatives thereof.

On the other hand, how is the 128mb VPS business doing? Barely anyone offers them anymore. The market makes my point for me. 512 is still a product in demand. 128 is catered for only by niche providers. By contrast Linode 512 was still wildly popular just last week.

You seem to be suggesting that if Linode 128 made a comeback it would immediately become their most popular plan. Reality and the market would prove otherwise, in my estimation.

First off, stop assuming what everyone needs. There are tons of linodes that have no LAMP stack or any part of it. That is one of your problems in debating this. Second off, I'm not trying to make a case for Linode to bring back a 128 offer, or a 256, or a 512. They wont, and I think they should not. By not doing so they are able to maintain the high quality of service they do today. Thirdly, most other providers that may have a 128MB of ram offer, or around there, probably do not have enough dispersed data centers to make my one example about IRC possible, or any other distributed network of the like. Fourthly, no a 128MB offering would not be their most popular plan. It would be the most abused for sure though (violations of TOS). Fifthly, you need to understand that what you are asking would be great for -you- and some others. It would not be enough for many people though and -would- be overkill for others. Sixthly (is that a word?), Linode can not satisfy every need. Attempts to do so would become costly and have a negative effect on us all. Seventhly (I'm on a roll! and almost positive that's not a word), you might as well drop it. As I've said this has been asked many times in the past, or very similar to it anyways. Linode has drawn the line, it was drawn in 2003 at $20. Hasn't budged in 10 years so don't expect it to.

You are the one making unrealistic assumptions about what a base case for the VPS market is. I don't need to assume. I just look at what the marketplace proves to be the case. 128mb plans are NOT popular. In fact they are almost completely extinct. Why is that? They have limited utility. Indeed, they are for corner cases.

QED.

Final post, because you are starting to not even listen to me. I'm not making unrealistic assumptions. I'm telling you there are people who's needs would be less than 512MB. Even as low as 128 or lower. The point here is not for 128 plans. They should be extinct, and should never be back on linode. Not sure why you are arguing with me there, we agree on that point. My point this whole time is you want a special plan to meet your needs. The 512 plan is reasonable, even today, at $19.95. Be thankful that Linode now gives you twice the 512 resources for 5 cents more. If $20 is too much for you then it is, sadly for you, time to look else where because as I said, and I close with this: Linode will never be able to satisfy everyone's needs.

*grin* I doubt there are many linodes without an 'L'

_________________
Rgds
Stephen
(Linux user since kernel version 0.11)

Yea, true. Forgot "Linux" was part of it

Linode does pvgrub doesn't it? You can run FreeBSD under pvgrub.

I've never tried personally but it sounds like a fun project.