On Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:51:31 -0500, Wayne.B wrote:


IBM and several other companies like AT&T found themselves with a
surplus of highly trained folks left over from the days of
electro-mechanical hardware. They tried to retred as many as possible
into software development and other related areas but the numbers
involved were just too large, and the new generations of all digital
equipment were just too reliable and easy to maintain.

Hell, IIRC, IBM had a policy of no involuntary layoffs well into the
1980s. Different times, I guess.