100 Years Ago, IBM Was Born

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

IBM’s centenary prompts a reassessment of a company that helped define early computing, from tabulating machines and mainframes to research breakthroughs, patents, and modern bets on quantum computing. Commenters juxtapose its engineering achievements and once-strong employee culture with later managerial bloat, chaotic project execution, aggressive patent behavior, and the sale of key hardware lines. A recurring theme is IBM’s morally fraught history, particularly its Dehomag subsidiary’s role in Nazi data processing, and how that episode illustrates the dangers of powerful information systems in the wrong hands.

IBM branding, slogans, and cultural echoes

  • Discussion links IBM’s historic “THINK” slogan to Apple’s “Think Different,” with citations suggesting Apple’s campaign was a deliberate reference, despite Apple and IBM being partners via the AIM alliance.
  • Naming history: shift from CTR to “International Business Machines” is contrasted with competitor NCR (“National Cash Register”) as a deliberate positioning move.

RISC, PowerPC, and ARM

  • AIM/PowerPC is described as a commercial failure versus x86, but influential in popularizing RISC, especially via mobile/ARM.
  • Participants clarify timelines: ARM (as architecture and later company) predates PowerPC; IBM’s own RISC lineage (801 → ROMP → POWER → PowerPC) complicates “who’s older” but consensus is ARM predates PowerPC.

Corporate culture, songbooks, and cult vibes

  • IBM’s 1930s corporate songbook is widely viewed as cult-like and hagiographic toward leadership.
  • Comparisons are drawn to modern corporate satire (e.g., “Severance”). Some argue such behavior would be mocked harshly if done by today’s tech giants.

IBM and the Holocaust / Dehomag

  • Multiple comments emphasize IBM’s German subsidiary Dehomag and its role in Nazi census, forced labor allocation, and genocide.
  • IBM founder’s decoration by Nazi Germany is discussed; there is disagreement over timing, medal type, and whether it was explicitly for the “Final Solution.”
  • Consensus: IBM profited significantly, knew at least that its tech was enabling repressive uses, and this is a “deeply shameful” episode.

Working at IBM and corporate trajectory

  • Centenary celebrations (~2011) included small RSU grants and memorabilia; some say labs were shut before vesting.
  • Mixed internal culture: some report low expectations and years of coasting; others report extreme crunch and burnout in consulting.
  • Many view 1990s–present as a shift from engineering-led IBM to consulting/financial-engineering, with divestitures (x86 servers to Lenovo, earlier IBM Federal to Lockheed) and “cloud” reclassification of revenue.
  • IBM is seen as bloated, chasing high-margin niches, occasionally acting as a patent aggressor.

Chaos in large organizations (generalized)

  • Extensive meta-discussion: many note that nearly all large companies, governments, and even banks operate in organized chaos—processes held together by SAP, spreadsheets, and email.
  • Some exceptions are cited (certain banks, oil majors, small “Mittelstand”-style firms), but these are framed as rare or context-dependent.
  • This chaos is contrasted with public perceptions of “well-oiled” corporations, feeding skepticism toward grand conspiracies; counterpoints argue that small subgroups can still coordinate “narrow conspiracies.”

Technology, research, and reputation

  • Positive reminiscence about AIX support quality ~20 years ago. Note that AIX development has since moved to India and US developers were laid off.
  • IBM Quantum System Two is mentioned as possibly justifying IBM’s valuation, but commenters say its practical uses remain unclear; current demos (e.g., factoring small numbers) are seen as unimpressive.
  • IBM Z and IBM Cloud are noted as remaining “tech” pillars, though cloud is based on an acquisition and considered niche.

Public image, regional impact, and history

  • IBM is jokingly re-acronymed in various negative ways and compared to other consulting “body shops.”
  • One thread recalls IBM and another local employer (a shoe company) as pillars of New York’s Southern Tier community, now largely hollowed out.
  • IBM’s removal of its public history site is noted as ironic in the context of a centennial retrospective.