Countercurrent 1982

Chapter 1400 The Dark Horse
IBM's refusal to use 386 to update products actually has its own considerations.

At that time, 286 was the best-seller in the market, while R86 chip was an old product with low price and huge profits. If the product was replaced, not only the supporting original parts and peripheral equipment would have to be redesigned, but the entire production line would also need to be completely remodeled. High, the profit of IBM computer machine will be greatly reduced.

In addition, 32-bit technology was only used on large-scale computers before. If IBM takes the lead in using 32-bit technology on personal computers, it will pose a challenge to its own big economy. Starting from its own interests, IBM will only use 386-bit technology on old products. Do, technology extension and improvement, instead of adopting the decision of revolutionary technology, using its dominant position in the computer market and the identity of the PC technology standard setter to hinder the promotion of [-] technology.

But the market will not obey the existing authority. In a mature and sound market, the customer is the real god. When IBM sends the new technology delivered to the door, the American Compaq, Hongji and other companies To seize the opportunity, fiercely challenged IBM's dominance.

In 1986, Combo launched a new generation of computers using 386 chips. Then, Dell Computer and its unique mail sales method greatly reduced the price of personal computers. Then Compo and Gateway 200 joined the new generation of computers. Facing the severe situation, IBM has gradually lost its competitiveness and profitability.

After the mid-80s, IBM's past glory no longer existed. In 1984, IBM obtained a net income of 68 billion US dollars after tax, with a sales profit of 14%. This is the highest profit record of all American companies so far, and it also represents The pinnacle of IBM's world, and since then IBM has reversed. Facing the pressure of price competition from overseas low-cost manufacturers and domestic compatible machine manufacturers, in desperation, it has adopted a large number of downsizing employees, strengthening sales force, reusing product leasing strategies and restructuring the organization. Structure and other measures, but have not achieved the desired effect.

From 1986 to 1988, the growth rate of IBM's turnover was only 3% to 6%, which could not keep up with the growth rate of operating expenses. As a result, the profit dropped sharply, and it was always in decline.

It is precisely because they are becoming more and more aware of the importance of new semiconductor technology for PC companies like them, so after discovering that Tianyin Group has developed a new generation of storage chips this time, their company immediately made a plan to visit China.

In addition, IBM's visit to Tianyin Group in China this time has some deeper reasons for international trade, that is, in the field of PC computers, the United States and Japan have entered an era of hegemony, and in the storage chip industry, since Intel Corporation After being at a disadvantage in storage chip technology with Japanese chip companies, they simply chose to break their arms to survive, and put the company's main business on the crisis CPU central processing unit chip, and this has also led to Japan's storage chip field. World domination.

In recent years, the competition between the US and Japan has been very fierce in the field of business and trade. In terms of PC computers, low-cost Japanese computers have begun to enter the US market. Companies including Sony, NEC, and Mitsubishi have also sold their own computers to Japan. The status of IBM's computer supremacy has produced great challenges.

If the US and Japan hadn't signed the "Hiroshima Agreement", I am afraid that the PC industry in the US would be completely crushed by Japan, especially the chip industry in Japan is also very developed, and they have higher advantages in terms of technology and cost in the field of storage chips.

It is precisely because of this that in order to gain an advantage in this competition, these PC companies in the United States try not to use Japanese chips as much as possible, but turn their attention to Europe and other parts of the world, hoping to find more chip supplies manufacturer.

However, what these American manufacturers did not expect was that a dark horse emerged from mainland China, which they had never paid attention to before, and successfully developed a brand-new storage chip with advanced performance, which naturally aroused the attention of American technology companies. great concern.

It can be said that if the United States and Japan were not in a competitive and hostile relationship in the PC field, American technology companies would not consider a product from a Chinese company at all, and the timing of the successful development of Duan Yun's NAND chip can be said to be a very good one.

In addition, Texas Instruments, which came to China with IBM this time, is more or less due to this reason.

Texas Instruments is also a giant in the US semiconductor industry. This company, founded in 1930, occupies a leading position in different product fields including digital signal processors, digital-to-analog converters, and analog integrated circuits. In addition, wireless communication is also a part of Texas Instruments. Focus, about 50% of the world's mobile phones are equipped with chips produced by Texas Instruments.

Texas Instruments has also maintained the top 10 semiconductor sales. Throughout the 80s, its chip sales were second only to Intel, followed by Toshiba, STMicroelectronics, and South Korea's Samsung.

NAND flash memory chips can be said to be a breakthrough technology in the semiconductor industry. As a world-leading semiconductor company like Texas Instruments, it is impossible to ignore this new technology. This time I came to China to explore the design principles of this new chip technology. At the same time, I also want to seek cooperation.

It is also an honor for Duan Yun and Tianyin Group to be favored by a giant company like Texas Instruments.

Duan Yun received a notice from the city government early in the morning, asking them to prepare to welcome the American business delegation. However, it was not until around 11 o'clock at noon that the city government's convoy slowly arrived.

"Boom boom boom!"

Seeing the arrival of the car, the drum team of students who had been waiting at the door suddenly sounded their drums and horns. Two rows of neatly dressed elementary school students held flowers in their hands, and a welcome smile bloomed on their slightly tired faces.

"Mayor Li, you're here!" Seeing Mayor Li Hao stepping out of the car first, Duan Yun immediately greeted him with a smile on his face.

"Let me introduce to you, this is Mr. McKess, the deputy manager of IBM's PC Department, and this is Mr. John Wilson, a senior engineer from Texas Electric Technology Department." After seeing Duan Yun, Li Hao immediately smiled. And Duan Yun introduced the two tall foreigners who got off the car behind.

"Welcome, welcome!" Duan Yun immediately greeted the two of them, and shook hands with them.

When the foreigners who came to visit learned that Duan Yun was the general manager of Tianyin Group, they immediately showed surprise on their faces.

Before coming to China, they never thought that the person in charge of a company that can develop NAND chips would be so young. In their impression, Chinese technical experts are basically very old scholars. Some weekly magazines and newspapers in the United States are in When reporting on Chinese scholars, they often appear in their 70s and [-]s, which is completely beyond their expectations.

(End of this chapter)