[rbn]

In 2012, Fortune ranked IBM the #2 largest U.S. firm in terms of number of employees (433,362), the #4 largest in terms of market capitalization, the #9 most profitable and the #19 largest firm in terms of revenue. Globally, the company was ranked the #31 largest in terms of revenue by Forbes for 2011. Other rankings for 2011/2012 include #1 company for leaders (Fortune), #1 green company worldwide (Newsweek), #2 best global brand (Interbrand), #2 most respected company (Barron's), #5 most admired company (Fortune), and #18 most innovative company (Fast Company).

IBM SUCKS!!!

[Tsts]

Yes, it does, from my point of view. It's just another boring, suits-driven consultancy avoided by the really smart people.

[rbn]

You're either young or live in a SV bubble that thinks that "really smart people" only want to work for Google, Apple or some hip startup.

[Tsts]

Yes, that's exactly the case for engineers/designers/project leaders ;-) Smart people have a choice and IBM is a poor choice for anyone with ambitions, beyond a steady paycheck.

[rbn]

I would say that if you want your own company you wouldn't work for any company because at the end of the day you are still working on someone else's product. Doesn't matter if it's Apple, MSFT for Acme Box corp.

However when you say "Smart people", are you saying that IBM's Watson, the latest Intel chip or the latest drug are create by stupid people because their company is not mentioned on HN.

[Tsts]

C'mon let's keep real. This is like saying: as long as you don't drive a Bentley there is no difference between an Audi and a Kia.

[dagw]

IBM is a poor choice for anybody with ambition to work with latest cool web frameworks doing 'social-X'. If your ambition is in chip design, AI, massive data processing, quantum computing and more theoretical work, then IBM probably isn't too bad a place.

[zmonkeyz]

You hit the nail on the head. :)