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Staples snaps up IBM supercomputer

Staples has purchased an IBM supercomputer to tie together information from its retail, Web and catalog operations, Big Blue said Wednesday. Staples, the office products giant, made the change so it can run sophisticated analyses of its sales data, such as uncovering buying patterns and forecasting sales. Staples has spent $3 million so far on the new system and expects to pay several million dollars more for upgrades in coming years, an IBM representative said. The system uses the IBM SSA storage system. However, IBM is trying hard to increase sales of its newer Shark storage product. IBM became the top supercomputer maker in November, according to one independent research group.

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
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Stephen Shankland
Staples has purchased an IBM supercomputer to tie together information from its retail, Web and catalog operations, Big Blue said Wednesday. Staples, the office products giant, made the change so it can run sophisticated analyses of its sales data, such as uncovering buying patterns and forecasting sales.

Staples has spent $3 million so far on the new system and expects to pay several million dollars more for upgrades in coming years, an IBM representative said. The system uses the IBM SSA storage system. However, IBM is trying hard to increase sales of its newer Shark storage product. IBM became the top supercomputer maker in November, according to one independent research group.