They had vertical integration and made bank. Then each layer got more complex as...

INTPenis · 2026-08-26T09:51:13

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-proc...

Creating the world's first dual instruction set CPU.

guenthert · 2026-08-26T13:53:57

> 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

INTPenis · 2026-08-26T14:08:59

That's not the same thing, it's more like a hidden feature than the ISA of an entirely different CPU.

Angostura · 2026-08-26T15:07:46

There was also the semi-mythical PowerPC 615 that was meant to have both PowerPC and x86 instruction sets. W

noir_lord · 2026-08-26T08:27:17

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.

chinathrow · 2026-08-26T08:25:29

They still produce the mainframe hardware ranges though.

anonymous_sorry · 2026-08-26T08:55:01

> IBM is now just a consultancy.

Except that they own Red Hat