> They sold off the thinkpad business as non-core, and they sold off their commodity server business (x-series) at some point too. In a sane world, they would

> They sold off the thinkpad business as non-core, and they sold off their commodity server business (x-series) at some point too. In a sane world, they would be spun-off and let prosper as their own entities. > Both hardware and software solutions have been de-emphasised in favour of 'services', and while that's fine in a business sense, it's so sad from the perspective of all that big blue has done for our industry over the years. It looks like MBA philosophy screwing up everything by optimizing 'numbers' as if those numbers have no connection to real life. Very optimal in the short run, but catastophic irrelevancy in the long run. But hey - at least IBM shareholders got maximum returns for some time, and that's all that matters right...