Has IBM Become Irrelevant?

By Tim Bryce

Years ago the technology industry was defined by IBM and the "BUNCH" (Burroughs, Univac, NCR, CDC, and Honeywell). One by one, the BUNCH slowly evaporated and have either been merged into other entities or taken a back seat to others, such as Digital, Wang, Data General, and others, all of which have also ridden off into the sunset. In the software industry, the big guns used to be Cincom, Cullinane, MSA, and Computer Associates, but it is now hard to find anyone in the business who even remembers their names.

Today, Wall Street defines the technology industry by such names as Google, Apple, Cisco, Dell, Microsoft, Priceline, Facebook, Intuit, Yahoo!, and others. Remarkably, IBM's name rarely appears in this regards which leads me to believe they are starting to fade from view as the BUNCH did years earlier.

There was a time when you mentioned the name "IBM" it conjured up images of mainframes, midrange computers, PC's, networks, operating systems, DBMS' and office equipment. Today, I'm not too sure exactly what it represents. I think they still sell "big iron" but they have abdicated just about everything else to others. They talk about such things as middleware, storage devices, and file servers, which is a far cry from the comprehensive product line that once dominated the industry.

For years it was well understood in the corporate world that you could never get fired for recommending the purchase of IBM products. It was the safe bet. Now they are lucky to be even considered in the running. From a hardware point of view, I still believe they know how to engineer products. I still have some of their PC's which, when you look under the cover, are solidly built and much better than just about anyone else's. But IBM now finds itself in the awkward position of having to prove itself as a viable solution provider.

IBM used to be well known for strong marketing tactics, some say heavy handed, but this started to change in the 1990's as IBM acquiesced the desktop to Microsoft. Instead of dominating the industry, they now appear to be content to lay back on the ropes absorbing one punch after another. What bothers me is that they give the appearance of a company who is no longer in charge of their own destiny and rely on others for direction. To me, this is the sign of a company on the verge of becoming irrelevant.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail. Tim Bryce is a writer and management consultant located in Palm Harbor, Florida. http://www.phmainstreet.com/timbryce.htm He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com Copyright © 2008 Tim Bryce. All rights reserved. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Bryce

The Top Reasons Why IBM Laptops Can Still Be Tops

By Carl Formby

Today, consumers have many options when it comes to buying a laptop so why choose an IBM laptop? This is a good and a fair question and it is one that many people will ask themselves. Here are some reasons that be helpful to you when it is time to make a buying decision.

Why choose an IBM laptop?

Reputation. IBM has a long history of quality products and service. In fact, it is one of the most well known companies on the planet. There are very few places you can go where people will not recognize this name.

But name recognition is only one sign of a good reputation. Quality service and innovative design are also important to a company's reputation. IBM has long been the leader in many areas of computing and business machines in general. Their dedication to task is second to none and that shows in the products that they sell.

Why choose an IBM laptop? Versatility. When IBM teamed up with Lenovo they began manufacturing some of the most impressive laptops on the market. These powerful machines were developed with both business and non-business users in mind. The ThinkPad series of laptops is a good example of how IBM and Lenovo began to fill the computing needs of customers both big and small.

There is practically no computing need that IBM and Lenovo cannot fill. From high powered commercial units to small, affordable laptops for students, they have a model and a product line to meet your requirements.

Of particular importance to many buyers is the outstanding ability that IBM and Lenovo have with configuring products to meet specific needs. Most of the product lines offer consumers the choices and the options that they want to see when they are ready to buy a new computer. This includes options on operating systems, memory capabilities, communication capabilities, screen size and resolution, and even pricing. By working with IBM and Lenovo you can literally pick and choose your components. This is something that some other company's cannot do or even offer to do. For more information on this aspect of buying a Thinkpad, visit http://www.laptopdecision.com.

Why choose an IBM laptop? Service. IBM is a leader in the area of consumer service. When you have a problem it gets fixed and fixed fast. IBM understands the importance of good customer relations and they practice it daily. When you have to send your unit in for repairs or for upgrades you know it is being serviced by highly trained professionals who know what they are doing. Again, some other companies cannot make that same claim.

Why choose an IBM laptop? Pricing. You may be surprised to know that IBM and Lenovo offer special pricing on occasion that really save you money. When you have one of the best laptops on the market for a price that you can afford why would you not choose an IBM laptop?

Carl Formby writes for http://www.laptopdecision.com a website packed with resources on how to find the best laptop drivers, including the right Thinkpad Wireless Laptops Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Formby

A Guide to Refurbished IBM Laptops

By Max Bellamy

IBM boasts a very large array of older and newer refurbished laptops on their website ibm.com. Look for “Notebooks: IBM Certified Used Equipment.” There you can buy any of dozens of models and variations, for hundreds of dollars less than new models. IBM inspects all of their returned laptops (including the batteries, as with most factory-refurbished laptops), makes sure they up and running at top speed, and repackages them for resale.

Most IBM refurbished laptops are ThinkPad A-series or T-series. A-series are heavier, but much more powerful, since they are designed to replace desktop computers. They can handle everything your desktop computer used to handle, plus they fit in your laptop carrying case. A-series models are generally more expensive than those in the T-series.

IBM T-series notebooks are made to be a little more powerful and a lot lighter and smaller than the A-series models. They were introduced to satiate those who were demanding a more portable model, so they could take all of their work with them wherever they went. Since they are a newer series, and because they are starting to replace the A-series, the T-series models are a bit more expensive.

As with most laptops refurbishing factories, IBM offers a three-month warranty and guarantee on all of their refurbished laptops – including for the battery. Third-party refurbishers also offer a ninety-day warranty, but with no warranty on the battery.

Refurbished Laptops Info provides detailed information on quality, cheap refurbished laptops by manufacturers like Dell, IBM, Toshiba, and HP, as well as refurbished laptop batteries and related products. Refurbished Laptops Info is the sister site of Rack Mount Computers Web. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Bellamy