1964: IBM unveils the System/360 line of mainframe computers. It was a daring innovation that transformed business, science, government and the IT industry itself.

Computing was changing fast, which befuddled a lot of businesses. They knew they needed “electronic brains” to compete, but were reluctant to invest in more than they needed, or in systems they couldn’t expand later, or that wouldn’t operate well with their other computers and equipment.

In what some consider the biggest business gamble of all time, International Business Machines invested $5 billion ($35 billion in today’s dollars) ...