IBM offers Linux incentive with p615 upgrade. IBM Corp. will ship a new version of its pSeries 615 server next Friday that includes not only a faster microprocessor, but also a financial incentive to purchase the system with Linux rather than IBM's AIX operating system. [InfoWorld: Top News]

This highlights one of the reasons why IBM is still on top of the pile: they are forward looking.  A few years back they saw that AIX and proprietary Unix was dying and adopted Linux as the future.  Now they are completing their transformation to a Linux-centered operation.  And they still make lots of money, probably more, because Linux is less expensive to maintain and advance than AIX.

12:17:58 PM