Video Game Empire

The improvement of the -3 computer over the previous -2 is not just a more powerful processor. The latest version of the East-OS running on the -3 computer has actually undergone major changes while maintaining forward compatibility.

The previous version of the system was written in assembly language, which has the advantages of high efficiency, good hardware control, and small program size. In the early days when the performance of the hardware was lagging behind and every precious potential needed to be tapped, the advantages of assembly language were obvious.

But assembly language also has a huge disadvantage, that is, poor portability and not easy to maintain. For example, the -3 computer does not use the original 6502 processor, but uses a new 32-bit ERM-1 processor. If the new -3 computer wants to continue to use the East-system of the previous -1 computer, modify the required program. The amount of work is about the same as writing a new system.

The high-level language represented by C language is highly portable and has good cross-platform characteristics. For example, a C language program written with standard specifications on East-OS can run on CP/M OS with slight modification, which is unimaginable for a program written in assembly language.

Moreover, C language also has the advantage of being easy to maintain. After a program is written, it must be continuously modified. This is a difficult problem for assembly language, but it is easy to implement for C language. Despite their many advantages, high-level languages ​​such as C have not been able to win the favor of PC programmers.

The fundamental reason for this is to run programs written in high-level languages. Compared with running programs written in assembly language, the performance requirements of the hardware are higher. Especially the memory usage. High-capacity memory is an expensive accessory in this day and age. Therefore, the C language was invented in 1972, and it has been used only on the minicomputer and mainframe platforms throughout the 1970s. Few people will use it to write software for personal computers.

But this situation, with the rapid development of computer hardware technology, is about to change. And Li Xuan, relying on the advantage of rebirth, once again became one step ahead of others and became the first person to eat crabs. East-, East-, East-Table and East-DBASE software were rewritten in high-level language mainly by C language.

As a result of this, though, the -3 computer's minimum memory configuration soared to 128K. If the memory is too small, the software cannot run at all. And now the memory of mainstream personal computers is only a dozen K, or twenty K.

The reason why Li Xuan dared to do this is because the memory price war between US and Japanese semiconductor companies is intensifying. At the beginning of 1981, Hitachi's 64K DRAM memory was quoted to Ikon at $50 per piece. But by June, Hitachi's latest offer had been lowered to $33. Now various semiconductor companies are working hard to develop 256K memory, and it is estimated that it should be able to come out next year. At that time, the price of 128K memory will definitely decline in an avalanche style.

Aikang has preset two memory slots for the -3 computer, and the minimum configuration is to insert two 64K memory sticks, which can basically meet the daily running needs of the computer. Budget-conscious customers can use it for a while, and then upgrade by themselves when the price of 128K memory sticks drops in the future.

At the same time, Dongfang Software Company has already started to develop C language programming tools, including practical compilers, interpreters, and syntax analyzers. Eastern Software Corporation put these software development kits. As well as part of the technical interface information of the system, it is widely licensed to other software companies to help them better develop various software suitable for the operating system.

As computers occupy a large market share in the United States, more and more software developers have begun to actively participate in the development of third-party software for the East-operating system. Dongfang Software Co., Ltd. naturally fully supports this. The richer the software that can run on the system, the better the user experience will feel.

In addition to the software vendor's upgrade. The new -3 computer has also made a lot of upgrades in hardware. For example, the motherboard has undergone a new standardized and modular design, and the design layout of various data interfaces and expansion card slots is more reasonable. At the same time, the -3 computer added a hard disk to store data on the basis of the original 5.25-inch floppy drive.

After all, the data that a floppy disk can store is limited, and for some users who use East-DBASE database software, a lot of data must be used frequently. cumbersome. It is also easy to lose important data due to the damage and loss of the floppy disk. It is better to save it directly on the hard disk of the computer.

At the same time, a new Ethernet interface is also designed in the motherboard of the new computer. On the -3 computer, Aikang gave up the local area network technology developed by itself before, but switched to the technical standard of Ethernet. A consortium of companies (Digital Equipment Corporation), Intel Corporation (Intel), and the company (Xerox) released the Blue Book of Ethernet technology standards, and Icon became the first personal computer company to support the standard.

After the negotiation between Aikang and the alliance, the technologies such as personal computer Ethernet cards, repeaters and hubs developed by Aikang have been incorporated into the standards of the alliance.

The local area network is definitely one of the most important selling points in the field of computer development and commercial office. Dongfang Software Co., Ltd. has absorbed the previous LAN technology of Aikang Computer and combined the latest file server technology to develop a brand-new shared network software. It adopts the protocol developed by Dongfang Software, which can easily realize file sharing and printing. With this software, companies and universities can easily realize computer networking.

The media will always give a lot of enthusiasm for the emergence of new technologies, the second day of the new product launch of Ikon in New York. The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal all covered the announcement of Ikon's new computer at length.

With the fierce advertising promotion, the -3 computer was officially launched simultaneously in dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and America. It's not the U.S. market that has ushered in the latest sales boom. but the Japanese market.

The Japanese PC market really took off after the emergence of Apple, and the Japanese electronics giants seem to be focusing their energy on the semiconductor field to fight American companies, and have not developed compelling personal computer products. Most of the local microcomputer products sold in Japan are Apple-compatible machines produced by some small companies.

The listing of the -3 computer in the Japanese market was like throwing a boulder on a calm lake, which immediately caused waves. East-Japanese version of the operating system, specially supports the Japanese display of the computer adapter, and cooperates with the Japanese input method specially developed by East Software Company. It really makes Japanese-based computer office possible.

"Your company uses Epson printers, no problem. Aikang and Epson are one of the strategic partners. Through cooperation with Epson, we have developed various models of Epson printers on the -3 computer operating system. If you buy a computer, we can install the corresponding driver software for you for free!" In the Osaka direct store of Computer Garden Company. A shopping guide is patiently explaining to customers how to use the printer through a computer.

Japan and Europe are among the overseas markets that Computerworld has recently focused on. In the past month, Computer Garden has opened five new computer hypermarkets in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto and other places, and the listing of -3 Computer has brought the first wave of Japanese direct-sale stores in Computer Garden. Sales boom.

The use of computers in corporate financial sales reports, personnel data and other aspects can greatly improve office efficiency. This is one of the reasons why many small and medium-sized Japanese companies are willing to pay for -3 computers. Compared to other personal computers on the Japanese market, the -3 computer is much more practical in software.

Li Xuan only knew from the report sent back by the Japanese branch of Computer Garden that the -3 computer sold well after it went on the market, but the specific sales data was not counted. The price of the lowest-configured -3 computer in Japan is also as high as 750,000 yen. Naturally, it is impossible to sell tens of thousands of units per day like a game console that only costs 5,000 yen.

The Japanese market sells so well. A big reason is that the competition is too weak. The best-selling computer product on the market was the Apple series of computers from Apple. In fact, Apple did not conduct special research and development for the Japanese market. But Apple's computer upholds an open architecture, allowing third-party companies to produce various peripheral function cards.

It is also the local peripheral equipment company in Japan that solved the problem of incompatibility of Apple computers with Japanese with a compatible card, allowing Apple to successfully open the Japanese market. However, the Apple computer is only an 8-bit computer, and the overall performance is limited after all, which is a little reluctant to use in business office. It can be said that the -3 computer does not have a real competitor in the Japanese market~www.readwn.com~ but the US market is different, IBM, a giant company, is about to join the competition. In less than half a month after the Aikang-3 computer was listed, IBM announced that it will hold a new microcomputer product launch conference in New York on August 12, officially entering the personal computer market.

1981 was the hardest time for IBM. After the new President Ronald Reagan took office, the Justice Department and IBM quickly reached a settlement, ending a years-long antitrust investigation. IBM still dominates the most lucrative mainframe market, and its management is no longer ignoring the rapidly changing market and is moving into the nascent personal computer industry.

The market has a positive view of IBM, which is clearly reflected in the company's stock price rising since the beginning of the year. Especially after the news that IBM was preparing to enter the personal computer market came out, the stock price rose 1% all of a sudden.

At the same time, the stock prices of other PC companies fell as a result. Among them, Apple's stock price fell by more than 3%, and the stock price of Ikon in London also fell by 1.5%, which shows that IBM's huge deterrent to the public. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to the starting point () to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read it.)