Intel has sold a 51% stake in Altera for $8.75 billion to a private equity firm, indicating a strategic shift. The initial acquisition has drawn criticism, with users pointing out that Intel may not fully understand the FPGA market. Many customers with needs for FPGAs are already loyal to existing providers, raising questions about the viability of Intel's strategy in this sector. This event could reflect larger trends in the semiconductor market and the challenges legacy companies face when entering specialized technology domains.