I'm unsure on the actual sizing but that wasn't exactly a rumor, that's when I was laid off. This was after a furlough and narrowly avoiding another layoff less than a year into my employment.

Needless to say I'm glad I'm gone, even if it wasn't my choice.

Cringely has always been very critical of IBM. I'm unaware of how often his predictions have been right.

Disclosure: IBMer, speaking for myself.