IBM’s vision of the future of computing and how its evolving technologies, product lines, and services fit into that future are the subject of this broad look at the world’s largest computer company. Discussing IBM’s e-business strategy to leverage Internet technology, its new emphasis on IBM Global Services, and its fast-growing consulting business this overview. profiles IBM’s new eServer xSeries, pSeries, iSeries, and zSeries, showing how each fits into an e-business context. A companion web site accessible only to buyers of this book provides the latest news and additional resources related to IBM technology and product lines.

This MaxFacts Guidebook describes the three components of IBM's new On Demand business model so IT professionals can see the big picture and understand how their businesses can benefit. Pros will come away with a new understanding of how to evolve a current computing infrastructure to achieve the flexibility vital to the emerging On Demand business world. Provided is an overview of key building-block product lines such as IBM eServer systems, TotalStorage, Infoprint printers, WebSphere, DB2, Tivoli, and Linux. The methods for learning how autonomic computing can help infrastructures automatically sense and respond to changing conditions so that things keep running smoothly are demonstrated, and virtualization techniques that can be leveraged to improve utilization and reduce costs are discussed in detail. The evolution of infrastructure toward the goal of end-to-end integration by leveraging hardware and software that adheres to open standards is also covered.

Annotation IBM Workplace represents an entire portfolio of IBM products, new and existing, that focuses on increasing people's productivity in a new way. In this book, IBM Software Live! Program Director Douglas Spencer and Senior Lotus Consultant Ron Sebastian start with an introduction to people productivity in the context of IBM's On Demand Business vision. Then the IBM Workplace strategy and products are described. You will see how the underlying componentized software infrastructure of IBM Workplace provides the flexibility businesses need in the emerging on demand world. You will see how many users without traditional desks such as an outbound sales force, factory floor staff, airline pilots, etc. can collaborate with others boosting the productivity of the entire organization, trading partners, and customers. The authors then provide an overview of the key product lines that implement the IBM Workplace vision including IBM Workplace, WebSphere Portal, Lotus Notes and Domino, and WebSphere Everyplace. You will learn how the new IBM Workplace client technology for these products combines the rich user experience of client/server with the cost characteristics of Web-based applications, giving users the best of both worlds. In the final chapter, the authors explore industry-specific people productivity solutions tailored for the needs of specific industries including aerospace, defense, automotive, banking, financial markets, consumer products, electronics, utilities, government, health care, insurance, life sciences, retail, and telecommunications, etc. The Foreword, by IBM Software Group General Manager of Workplace, Portal, and Collaboration Software, Michael D. Rhodin, provides an insider's perspective on the thinking behind IBM Workplace. To help you stay current, this book comes with your personal password for accessing the companion Web site which offers up-to-the-minute IBM Workplace news, More on the Web links, and additional resources.

The Fastest Way to Learn about IBM Strategy and Technology Since October 2002, IBM has been laser focused on a sweeping strategy known as On Demand Business. Since then, every IBM product line and service offering has been steadily infused with the technology and function necessary to support the On Demand Business model. In this freshly updated Third Edition of IBM On Demand Technology Made Simple, popular technology author Jim Hoskins starts by describing the IBM vision known as On Demand Business so you can see the big picture and understand how your business can benefit. We then move in for a closer look at the computing infrastructure necessary to support an On Demand Business. You will come away with a new understanding of how you can evolve your current computing infrastructure to achieve the flexibility so vital in the on demand era. This MaxFactsTM Guidebook presents an easy-to-read overview of key building block products such as IBM servers, storage, printer, and software including WebSphere, DB2, Tivoli, Lotus, Rational and Linux from an On Demand Business perspective. You will learn about the IBM Systems Agenda which guides the development of all IBM server and storage product lines. You will see how virtualization can be leveraged to improve utilization and reduce costs. You will see how to evolve your infrastructure towards the goal of end-to-end integration by leveraging hardware and software that adheres to open standards. To help you stay current, this book provides you with a personal password for accessing the companion Web site which offers up-to-the-minute On Demand Business news, More on the Web links highlighted throughout the book, and additionalresources. This book will help you: * Get inside IBM's companywide On Demand Business strategy * See how best to evolve your infrastructure for the future * Update your knowledge on key IBM server, storage, printer, and software product lines * Understand where IBM is headed with Linux * Stay current through the members only companion Web site

Increasingly, the "window" through which customers, business partners, and employees view a business is a computer screen. Expectations as to what a business provides in terms of online access to services through this window or portal are increasing rapidly. And it's not enough to provide people with a consistent way of accessing the online tools they need to work, collaborate, or buy. Today's businesses stand to achieve many benefits by implementing an enterprise-class portal that provides consistent access to customized tools that improve productivity, fuel innovation, and improve customer satisfaction. This is the thinking behind the growing family of IBM accelerators for WebSphere Portal. This book provides business people and IT staff with an easy-to-read introduction to the IBM accelerators. It will start by introducing the concept of a portal, the WebSphere family, and WebSphere Portal Server. Each IBM accelerator will then be introduced and explored in terms of both the business value it provides and how it works. To illustrate how the IBM accelerators can be employed to solve business problems, three hypothetical businesses are described and then outfitted with the appropriate IBM accelerator solution. This book will help you: Understand how portals can help businesses be more successful. Learn about IBM WebSphere and WebSphere Portal Server. Get inside the IBM accelerator strategy. See the business value of IBM accelerators in various environments. Learn by watching as three businesses implement IBM accelerators. About the Author Jim Hoskins has been involved with computer technology design, implementation, and education for over 25 years. He is the author of many articles, books, and ebooks covering a wide range of technology and Internet business topics. Jim spent over a decade with IBM designing computer systems and directly helping businesses of all sizes design and implement real-world solutions. He is the author/editor of the popular "Exploring IBM" series of books, which has sold over 350,000 copies in 12 languages. Jim has a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida and resides in GulfBreeze, Florida with his wife and five children.