Big Blue's latest Big Green manifesto

Don't know the protocol, but I guess a simple "hello" will do.

The folks at ZDNet have been gracious enough to let me sidle up here to Harry Fuller in GreenTech Pastures where I can be passionate about the unlikely combination of the high-tech industry and the environment. Thanks Harry!

I recognize much of the green chatter from the largest of the large high-tech vendors has a lot to do with that other green (the good ole American greenback, as Harry has opined), but sometimes you gotta wonder. Especially when you're IBM.

Consider that the company that sold off its PC division to concentrate on servers, software and services essentially is idling 3,900 of its own smaller servers in favor of consolidating its worldwide data centers onto about 300 System z mainframes. (Here's the lengthy press release describing said move.) IBM figures the new set-up will consume roughly 80 percent less energy not to mention software and system costs. I find myself feeling kind of sorry for the IBM execs whose job it is to sell anything BUT IBM mainframes. Still guess this makes the case for product differentiation, though. No mistaking what's a small business server vs. what is meant for the enterprise and I'm sure that differentiation will play in Peoria, as they say. Oh, did I mention the servers will be recycled through IBM Global Asset Recovery Services?

Anyway, true green move or smart marketing play? Comment away or email me at hccollins@mac.com.