---
title: "First Fruits of IBM's Post-PC Play"
date: 2004-12-14T19:26:19Z
modified: 2004-12-14T19:26:19Z
permalink: "https://redmonk.com/jgovernor/first-fruits-of-ibms-post-pc-play/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 87
categories:
  - Uncategorized
timestamp: 2004-12-14T19:26:19Z
tags:
  - Uncategorized
---

The FT is running a very interesting article today, trailing a story set to break later on about a major deal between IBM and the [New York Stock Exchange ](http://www.nyse.com/)(NYSE).

The deal is an end to end middleware fest, with IBM gaining a new uber-reference for zSeries, DB2, WebSphere and so on. See Clint’s story [here](http://www.aspnews.com/news/article.php/3442491) for more detail on transaction volumes and stuff. Its good to see NYSE improve its IT governance in tandem with [corporate governance](http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/1101074746736.html) efforts.

But it is the device story that really caught my eye, coming so hot on the heels of the [Lenovo](http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/archives/000319.html) [deal](http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/archives/000305.html):

From the FT:

_The exchange is buying 3,000 hand-held devices designed by IBM’s Engineering and Technology Services unit. Brokers on the trading floor will use them to process their buy and sell orders._

IBM engineers designed the unit after realising that current PDA (personal digital assistant) devices had screens that were too small, while existing tablet-style PCs were too heavy.

So they designed a “mini-tablet” hand-held that weighs less than 1.8lb and includes a number of design innovations including a shaped back designed to fit in the palm of the hand and a bright 16cm colour display.

In addition to the hand-helds, IBM is also supplying custom Linux work stations with high-resolution graphics, low power and back-up connectivity.

I, for one, can’t wait to see the devices. The story could be a red herring, or it could be that IBM is finally going to make a post Wintel era client play. I am looking forward to hearing more about the specs-what is the chip and stuff. I want one.