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They had vertical integration and made bank. Then each layer got more complex as computing became mainstream, and IBM got out-competed on everyone of them by sp

by BenoitP 1mo ago

They had vertical integration and made bank. Then each layer got more complex as computing became mainstream, and IBM got out-competed on everyone of them by specialized companies. And then they sold them off. The only layer that remains is the most strategic: the customer relationship. IBM is now just a consultancy.

chinathrow 1mo ago
They still produce the mainframe hardware ranges though.
noir_lord 1mo ago
I think that's a little simplistic/reductive. In some areas IBM still holds if not a technological advantage at least the first among equals position, they just aren't areas that are flashy or generally known outside of folks like us - Mainframes and related technologies for example, the IBM Z series is still a huge player there. They are also a consultancy though.
anonymous_sorry 1mo ago
> IBM is now just a consultancy. Except that they own Red Hat
INTPenis 1mo ago
Not much is left of the great IBM, but their Z architecture is still superior when it comes to reliability at scale. In fact, "what happened to IBM?", they were in the news recently: https://wccftech.com/ibm-worlds-first-dual-architecture-processor-dual-isa-core-natively-executes-z-arm-software/ https://wccftech.com/ibm-worlds-first-dual-architecture-proc... Creating the world's first dual instruction set CPU.
- guenthert 1mo ago
  > Creating the world's first dual instruction set CPU. World's first? What about the VIA C3 (or earlier NEC V20)? I'm sure there are more / earlier ones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_Instruction_Set https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_Instruction_Set
  - INTPenis 1mo ago
    That's not the same thing, it's more like a hidden feature than the ISA of an entirely different CPU.
  - Angostura 1mo ago
    There was also the semi-mythical PowerPC 615 that was meant to have both PowerPC and x86 instruction sets. W

by BenoitP 1mo ago

chinathrow 1mo ago

They still produce the mainframe hardware ranges though.

noir_lord 1mo ago

I think that's a little simplistic/reductive. In some areas IBM still holds if not a technological advantage at least the first among equals position, they just aren't areas that are flashy or generally known outside of folks like us - Mainframes and related technologies for example, the IBM Z series is still a huge player there. They are also a consultancy though.

anonymous_sorry 1mo ago

> IBM is now just a consultancy. Except that they own Red Hat

INTPenis 1mo ago

Not much is left of the great IBM, but their Z architecture is still superior when it comes to reliability at scale. In fact, "what happened to IBM?", they were in the news recently: https://wccftech.com/ibm-worlds-first-dual-architecture-processor-dual-isa-core-natively-executes-z-arm-software/ https://wccftech.com/ibm-worlds-first-dual-architecture-proc... Creating the world's first dual instruction set CPU.

guenthert 1mo ago
> Creating the world's first dual instruction set CPU. World's first? What about the VIA C3 (or earlier NEC V20)? I'm sure there are more / earlier ones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_Instruction_Set https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_Instruction_Set
- INTPenis 1mo ago
  That's not the same thing, it's more like a hidden feature than the ISA of an entirely different CPU.
- Angostura 1mo ago
  There was also the semi-mythical PowerPC 615 that was meant to have both PowerPC and x86 instruction sets. W