By contrast, check out today's announcement from Big Blue: Its new flagship eServer zSeries 990 runs up to 9 billion instructions per second on 32 processors--three times the system capacity of its predecessor z900--thanks in part to a palm-sized package of copper and silicon-on-insulator semiconductors with over 3.2 billion transistors and 500 meters of ultra-thin wire.
Sure, it's got an unbelievably long, non-detachable wire sticking out of it, but its build quality is top notch and its ultra-clicky face buttons are a pleasure to use.
Why should competitors build innovative, ultra high-speed fiber networks that would provide real competition when the government is giving them a break on copper wire?