Lou Gerstner

Lou Gerstner has made network-centric computing a cornerstone of IBM strategy. But more than just talking about network-centric computing, Gerstner's backing up his words through acquisitions, big research and development spending, and a genuine commitment to the Internet and Java.

Gerstner has in his possession a couple of crown jewels: Lotus and Tivoli Systems, Inc. Lotus is setting the standard for collaboration on the 'Net with its Lotus Notes and Domino software; Tivoli is in a dogfight with Computer Associates International, Inc. for leadership of enterprise IT management.

And then there's good ol' IBM. Big Blue is still king of the Data Center.

IBM mainframes are the vaults within which business critical applications ... no, entire businesses ... reside.

Contrary to popular belief, business over the 'Net actually is using up more mainframe processing cycles, making mainframes a mainstay in the Internet/intranet paradigm. And IBM is dead serious about playing in this new world, otherwise it would not be backing Java and network computers so vigorously.

So, while the PC revolution knocked this king from its throne years ago, the time is right for Big Blue to reassert itself in a big way in networking.

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