6 ms·

I've used two services from IBM: Notes and node DB2 package. Both of them were pretty low quality, the db2 package was so unstable that it constantly segfaulted

I've used two services from IBM: Notes and node DB2 package. Both of them were pretty low quality, the db2 package was so unstable that it constantly segfaulted the entire node process. It's not fixed for years since the issue was reported with reproducible code. Needless to say I wouldn't recommend IBM even to my enemies. Can anyone share a good IBM experience? I'm honestly interested.

Consultant32452 9y ago
Model M keyboard ftw.
- eesmith 9y ago
  The argument from the linked-to piece is that "IBM is a hollow shell of what it once was". The Model M keyboard is from IBM 40+ years ago.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
blakesterz 9y ago
They bought SoftLayer a few years ago and haven't ruined it. Not sure if that really counts or not, but I was really worried. I've been there for quite a few years, and nothing went downhill after they got bought.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
  - abraae 9y ago
    Not the person you are replying to but I'd say no. As the supplier you should back yourself as to whether its likely that your changes will cause an issue or not. If so, issue a warning, otherwise don't. The reason I say this is not for your customer's benefit but for yours. I've seen people get all knotted up with process because someone had the bright idea that the customer should be notified when absolutely anything changes behind the scenes - just in case. This abundance of caution will make your life a misery, and stops any rapid movement. It also desensitizes the customer, who gets used to your notifications and eventually decides they can ignore them.
ksk 9y ago
Those appear to be products - which is different than hiring IBM to develop something for you. IBM has had a storied history in tech from developing/popularizing the PC to OS/2 to their thinkpad laptops, to designing systems for the space shuttle, and natural language projects like the Watson. I don't think IBM lacks talent. Its almost seems like when you can get away with milking the system, nobody seems to have any moral qualms in selling the government a $200 screwdriver.
- raesene9 9y ago
  Unfortunately IBMs history doesn't really provide any evidence of their current competency. You really don't have to go far to find stories of IBMs cost cutting, moving staff to the lowest possible cost locations, poor treatment of staff etc. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/06/ibm_retracts_agreed_voluntary_redundancies/ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/06/ibm_retracts_agreed... is one recent example.
  - ksk 9y ago
    >Unfortunately IBMs history doesn't really provide any evidence of their current competency. I gave current examples of competency. Its trivial to find others. In any case, my point was merely to differenciate services from products, so I'm not sure what you were replying to anyway.
eesmith 9y ago
I'll share another bad experience. AstraZeneca pulled out of a $1.4 billion/7-year deal with IBM a couple of years early, because of dissatisfaction with IBM's service. I remember hearing about it then, but I cannot now find details of the problems.
eitland 9y ago
> Can anyone share a good IBM experience? I'm honestly interested. The IBM pc we bought in the 90ies was fantastic. It had working suspend resume many years ahead of other computers and came with 365/24 free phone support for a year (and the next years was about 50USD). This being was very useful since I didn't have Internet access. The support team had unlimited time, patience and knowledge and would walk me (15-16 y.o) through any procedure including if necessary: backup, reconfigure disk with fdisk, restore os from backup etc etc. I learned a whole lot from them both technical stuff as well as how to deal with customers ;-) (And yes, old IBM ThinkPads were very popular IIRC.) Edit: details.
RobLach 9y ago
GPFS (Called spectrum scale now).

Consultant32452 9y ago

Model M keyboard ftw.

eesmith 9y ago
The argument from the linked-to piece is that "IBM is a hollow shell of what it once was". The Model M keyboard is from IBM 40+ years ago.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]

blakesterz 9y ago

They bought SoftLayer a few years ago and haven't ruined it. Not sure if that really counts or not, but I was really worried. I've been there for quite a few years, and nothing went downhill after they got bought.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
- abraae 9y ago
  Not the person you are replying to but I'd say no. As the supplier you should back yourself as to whether its likely that your changes will cause an issue or not. If so, issue a warning, otherwise don't. The reason I say this is not for your customer's benefit but for yours. I've seen people get all knotted up with process because someone had the bright idea that the customer should be notified when absolutely anything changes behind the scenes - just in case. This abundance of caution will make your life a misery, and stops any rapid movement. It also desensitizes the customer, who gets used to your notifications and eventually decides they can ignore them.

ksk 9y ago

Those appear to be products - which is different than hiring IBM to develop something for you. IBM has had a storied history in tech from developing/popularizing the PC to OS/2 to their thinkpad laptops, to designing systems for the space shuttle, and natural language projects like the Watson. I don't think IBM lacks talent. Its almost seems like when you can get away with milking the system, nobody seems to have any moral qualms in selling the government a $200 screwdriver.

raesene9 9y ago
Unfortunately IBMs history doesn't really provide any evidence of their current competency. You really don't have to go far to find stories of IBMs cost cutting, moving staff to the lowest possible cost locations, poor treatment of staff etc. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/06/ibm_retracts_agreed_voluntary_redundancies/ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/06/ibm_retracts_agreed... is one recent example.
- ksk 9y ago
  >Unfortunately IBMs history doesn't really provide any evidence of their current competency. I gave current examples of competency. Its trivial to find others. In any case, my point was merely to differenciate services from products, so I'm not sure what you were replying to anyway.

eesmith 9y ago

I'll share another bad experience. AstraZeneca pulled out of a $1.4 billion/7-year deal with IBM a couple of years early, because of dissatisfaction with IBM's service. I remember hearing about it then, but I cannot now find details of the problems.

eitland 9y ago

> Can anyone share a good IBM experience? I'm honestly interested. The IBM pc we bought in the 90ies was fantastic. It had working suspend resume many years ahead of other computers and came with 365/24 free phone support for a year (and the next years was about 50USD). This being was very useful since I didn't have Internet access. The support team had unlimited time, patience and knowledge and would walk me (15-16 y.o) through any procedure including if necessary: backup, reconfigure disk with fdisk, restore os from backup etc etc. I learned a whole lot from them both technical stuff as well as how to deal with customers ;-) (And yes, old IBM ThinkPads were very popular IIRC.) Edit: details.

RobLach 9y ago

GPFS (Called spectrum scale now).