[noahc]

Even so IBM's business model when they are not selling wetware involves selling expensive black boxes that are maintained, installed, and serviced by expensive wetware. Even though it makes up half of revenue, that doesn't mean the other half is not directly related to driving business to the wetware side.

I think the business model outlined above is correct in the global strategy sense, even if you looking at a few pie graphs makes you think otherwise.

[gaius]

IBM GS is tech-agnostic; they don't just implement IBM mainframe solutions, they'll take your money to do SAP, Oracle, whatever you want, same as any of the other bodyshops.

[noahc]

Right, but doesn't that just strengthen my point?

If they are tech-agnostic then they aren't in the hardware/software business, which was my original point. They are in the hardware/software business because it helps them take your money for the wetware side.