IBM allegedly provided specialized punch card technology and data processing services to Nazi Germany during World War II. These systems helped automate the identification and tracking of victims during the Holocaust through their German subsidiary, Dehomag.
I noted IBM's $3.5 billion acquisition of PwC Consulting, comparing it to HP's previous $18 billion offer. I observed that IBM's stock price stayed steady, suggesting they may have secured a bargain on the deal.
I explore an Economist article comparing Microsoft’s 2002 challenges to IBM’s 1982 decline. It highlights that Microsoft's ability to adapt and prosper hinges on its capacity to build trust and navigate long-term antitrust pressures.
IBM is positioning itself as a 21st-century computer utility by offering supercomputing on demand. This move highlights an early shift towards utility-based high-performance computing models where resources are managed like a public service.
I highlight the classic HAL and IBM connection in 2001: A Space Odyssey while pointing to a clever genetic pun found in the title of the film Gattaca, which references DNA base sequences.
Be careful with online payments following reports of a Russian hacker breaching 40 companies, an attack on an Amazon subsidiary, and critical security vulnerabilities discovered in IBM’s Net.Commerce e-commerce platform.