bloom america

Chapter 231: IBM’s Pressure and Thunder Labs

In July, "The Gray Zone" landed in Europe and began to be released in various European countries. At this time, "The Gray Zone" is expected to bring Catherine more than 100 million yuan in box office.

With a box office of over 100 million US dollars, the revenue is estimated to be tens of millions of US dollars.

After the party, Catherine returned to California and continued working.

At this time, the development of the personal version of the Phoenix-Stargate system is close to completion.

Of course, this is the earliest alpha version, not even a beta version.

The kernel of this system is written in C language and a small amount of assembly language. Because this system is tailor-made for the SFC CPU, it has been specially optimized.

The icons of the graphical interface were designed by Aniya herself. They have five themes: red, green, yellow, blue, and gray. They look very beautiful.

Although the design is ready, the 2D renderers currently used are all 2D renderers. Although in the eyes of people of this era, Catherine's pictures are very gorgeous, Catherine herself does not like it.

After returning to the company, Lyreira was taken away by Kane. It could be seen that Lyreira didn't look good when she left.

But for some reason, Catherine found this matter very interesting.

Sitting in the office, Catherine asked Elsa to bring over all the information about microcomputers. Catherine was ready to see how different her products were from those in history.

In Catherine's view, the reason why her computer has developed rapidly is not the CPU, but the memory.

The earliest memory was actually invented by IBM. Their bipolar transistor memory has always dominated the market.

But the application of field effect transistors is the key to the development of memory.

Initially, the memory is very small.

But later, I don’t know who used the expensive field-effect transistors on a large scale in memory. Although the price was high, buyers still flocked to them.

Then, such memories began to appear on a large scale.

After large-scale production began, product prices became lower and lower due to competition among each other, and correspondingly, memory capacity also increased greatly.

For now, many times, the size of the memory in some people's computers is larger than the capacity of the magnetic core memory inside.

Normally, a hard drive should be a place where operating systems, software, and games are installed. But now, this is not the case. The development of hard drives seriously lags behind other industries. In this regard, Catherine has no way to bypass IBM's patents. Their hard drives

, in fact, it is already the prototype of the future hard drive, but it is a pity that the size of such a hard drive is really too big...

Therefore, for now, the memory in the computer is mainly used to store some user settings and the like, rather than storing the software itself.

Catherine's optical drive will undoubtedly exacerbate this situation in the future. Today's computers are very different from those in the future...

At this moment, Sanders walked in, and it could be seen that his expression was very strange.

"Miss, I have three pieces of news for you. One is good, one is bad, and one is neither good nor bad. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"First talk about the good, then talk about the bad, and finally talk about the good or bad."

"The research on the z80 microcontroller has been successful. A researcher named Federico Fanjin is the hero of this research."

"Oh, great"

The z80 microcontroller has been developed. At least in the next 30 years, I will not have to worry about the field of microcontrollers. After all, some of the data that such a microcontroller needs to process is very small, and 8-bit computers can already be used.

"Wait a minute...that researcher, tell me...what's his name?"

"Federico Fangin."

"Um...Okay, no problem, that's it."

The corners of Catherine's mouth began to twitch.

Federico Fankin - This dear friend is the inventor of the original z80 in history and the father of the microcontroller.

Catherine actually didn't know that Fan Jin was actually in her company.

I actually almost buried a talented person

Catherine almost "raised the case": "It is necessary to give that Federico a promotion."

"Okay, I understand. So, Miss Edson, can I have the second piece of news?"

"Say it."

Sanders took out a report and handed it to Catherine: "Last month, IBM's sales of 360 mainframes were 5,000 units. Their market share in mainframes has further expanded. We seem to have encountered a problem.

Some trouble."

"You...did I hear it correctly?"

Are you kidding me? In the original history, IBM sold a total of 50,000 units, right? Now it has sold one-tenth of the original units in one month?

"How is this going?"

Catherine looked at the report and was shocked.

"mine"

Finally, Catherine couldn't help but uttered a curse word.

IBM actually used the open interface of Catherine's microcomputer and minicomputer to develop an accessory for the 360 ​​computer, which can use Catherine's microcomputer and minicomputer as an expansion accessory for the 360 ​​mainframe.

Such a system is implemented through the interface of Catherine's cassette. Through Catherine's system, 360 can better integrate and process resources.

What made Catherine even more embarrassed was that when the other party was still selling the 360 ​​computer, he helped Catherine sell the computer.

But this does not prove that IBM is ready to make peace with Ark. On the contrary, they are giving Ark a hard slap in the face.

In this case...will my personal computer soon become an accessory for IBM's 360?

Is it tolerable or not?

The interface technology of the cassette is open, just like USB defeated the IEEE1394 interface in history and became the world's leader.

However, this open interface gave IBM a loophole. They cleverly used the architecture of Catherine's microcomputer to make the operation of their 360 more simple and convenient.

IBM is like a scheming wise man who will not let go of hawks when he sees the rabbit. Although Catherine's previous tricks unexpectedly disrupted IBM, and the other party has been trapped in judicial investigations, IBM came back to its senses and immediately used their power.

The power of Catherine's products immediately changed from a stumbling block to a help for them.

"Aren't they going to develop a new microcomputer architecture?" Catherine asked.

"Maybe yes, but maybe... they are just showing off. And even if it is a new structure, they will probably enter the Japanese market first."

"Okay, okay, let's talk about the next news first."

Now that Catherine heard the three letters IBM, her mood subconsciously became bad.

"Uh...this thing is that in New York, someone opened a special arcade game room."

"Is this a good thing?" Catherine asked strangely.

"Yes, but the New York police are not happy about it."

"Why?" Do you want a bribe?

However, after Sanders finished speaking, Catherine realized that the mistake was still on her side.

Every time there is a long line of people queuing up in front of the arcade to play games.

Generally speaking, such game arcades usually appear in hotels or billiard rooms, where alcoholic beverages are served. This specialized arcade game arcade is no exception.

The boss seems to be a game console enthusiast. He seemed to have opened this arcade out of interest, but the area was too small, and he had no idea that his arcade would be so popular.

When there are more people waiting, there will be more people drinking. When there are more people drinking, there will be more people making trouble.

Although the public security in New York is not very good to begin with, the reputation project must be maintained, right? As a result, this arcade has become a cancer in the eyes of the New York police.

"Then why did they come to us?" Catherine looked strange.

"Actually, I don't quite understand what they think. Not only that, but there is also a letter of protest sent by the Alcoholics Anonymous Association." Sanders shrugged.

Catherine took the protest.

Then, she discovered the two suggestions above.

1. Ban all electronic entertainment equipment in bars and billiard rooms, and prohibit the sale of any alcoholic beverages in game halls.

2. Ensure adequate supply of electronic entertainment equipment and prohibit the sale of any alcoholic beverages in game arcades.

Although Catherine wanted to complain that prohibition of alcohol was the subject of the other party, she still knew that similar things would only happen more and more from now on.

"Acquire it and move it to the sixth floor of our venue." Catherine immediately said

"Acquisition?"

"Yes, for the New York police, they just want to keep face, but for those temperance associations... just tell them," Catherine scratched her head, "we have already copied it... By the way, we have a meeting on the 7th floor

A bar.”

That's interesting, isn't it?

"The arcade market also has great potential," Sanders said.

"Yes, but please don't talk to me about expanding the market until our new factory is put into production."

Catherine had enough headaches.

"What about IBM?"

"Of course it goes without saying" Catherine almost burst into laughter, "Of course we eliminated IBM's 360 at a faster speed."

"this……"

"Increase investment, even if it's a loan, and let Clay hurry up and develop our new mainframe."

At this time, Clay could only stop working on the graphics operating system for the mainframe.

"We must do everything we can to turn IBM's 360 into a pile of scrap metal."

Catherine roared.

In this era, IBM was possessed by the halo of the protagonist. It really killed God when God blocked it, and Buddha when Buddha blocked it. Catherine's behavior could not stop IBM's rise.

Catherine was arrogant, and Sanders was a little helpless.

"Miss, this is not a simple matter."

Sanders said.

At this time, Catherine was unable to reach the ground.

"Okay, so be it"

Seeing Catherine calm down temporarily, Sanders continued: "Actually, even if we develop a new supercomputer, it is not necessary for enterprises. We must develop a bunch of killer applications.

Possibly entering this monopoly market... is a bunch."

"Is there no other way?"

Catherine was a little discouraged.

She also knows that the other party's monopoly market has been formed.

Historically, fluorescent optical discs with terabyte storage capacity could be blocked, not to mention Catherine's supercomputer, which was seriously undercapacity.

"In fact, the technical department has held a meeting about this, and Olson said to me, 'Maybe if we go rub Aladdin's lamp, there will be some hope.'"

Sanders is out of touch.

"That's it, you go to work first..."

Catherine talked for a while and could only let Sanders leave first.

These things couldn't be rushed, and Catherine finally could only sit on the chair tiredly.

"Drink some water, Kate." Elsa placed a cup of black tea in front of Catherine.

"Really, why is that old man Watson always having trouble with us?"

Catherine couldn't figure it out.

"Because they are IBM and this is Ark."

Catherine shrugged.

"Well...well, that's the truth..."

Catherine thinks her company should do something.

Today's computer hardware cannot keep up with software, not the other way around. Therefore, in many cases, software development is limited by hardware, rather than in the future, software development cannot keep up with hardware updates.

In "history", the most memorable thing is undoubtedly that mankind has entered the 32-bit CPU era from the 16-bit CPU era. At that time, almost countless people were cheering for this.

However, when 64-bit CPUs began to appear, people's cheers were not so strong. Some people even looked down on 64-bit CPUs because they believed that such CPUs were really unnecessary.

The former is because the development of software has been restricted, while the latter is because software development cannot fully tap the potential of hardware.

The best way to kill IBM's 360 is undoubtedly to launch a microcomputer that can functionally replace today's mainframes - but unfortunately, it will take at least 10 to 15 years for this to be gradually realized.

Catherine suddenly thought of cross-patent licensing.

But it is obvious that IBM is now in its glorious period of occupying more than 76% of the large market, and Catherine does not intend to put her hot face on her cold butt.

"If he is strong, he will be strong, and the breeze will blow on the hills; if he is horizontal, he will be horizontal, and the bright moon will shine on the river..."

Catherine didn't know why, but she suddenly thought of such a poem, and then she suddenly laughed.

——She has a solution.

Then, starting from the next day, Catherine completely restructured Ark Company.

First of all, Catherine introduced a competition mechanism for the company. In this way, a project may be developed by multiple groups back to back. In order to prevent each other from undermining each other and strengthen cooperation, Catherine announced that everyone’s pension will be distributed to the whole company, rather than to the previous departments.

Benefit linkage.

Then, Catherine adopted a welfare system that gave employees stock options.

The so-called option is the right to purchase stocks at a certain price, such as the current market price, within a certain period of time, such as ten years. Employees who receive options will have a sense of ownership of the company. If the company's stock rises, then those who own stock options can

Buying stocks at a low price in the past, the so-called exercise, and then selling them at a high price now to make a profit from the difference - of course, because Catherine's company is not a listed company, this method is obviously inappropriate.

The system adopted by Catherine is only for welfare. Such options cannot be bought and sold, but can only be distributed as dividends. It is somewhat similar to the shareholding reform of a company, but Catherine is still the largest shareholder.

When employees received benefits, they immediately became excited, and the company's efficiency suddenly improved to a higher level.

In addition to these measures, Catherine also asked each department to develop a minimum program and a maximum program, which are the goals that employees strive for.

In addition, Catherine once again spent tens of millions of dollars and once again established a new laboratory-Xunlei Laboratory.

The main body of Xunlei Laboratory is the Eight Rebellions. The purpose of this laboratory is to study GPU technology.

As Catherine envisioned, hardware will limit the development of computer software for a long time.

Although "historically", it only took Intel 3 years to bring computers from the 16-bit era to the 32-bit era, but in Catherine's view, the 386 at that time could not even play games like "Sword of Sword"

, you can’t even install wind95, it’s totally a scam.

But... what if there was a secondary processing device more powerful than the CPU?

In this case, can I "run into communism"?

This is a good idea, and it is completely achievable.

Bill Gates's dominance originated from wind3.1, and then was consolidated in the wind95 period.

In Catherine's view, the invention of GPU and the application of CUDA technology will greatly improve this situation.

Maybe it would have taken another 10 years to see a system like wind95, but with the GPU, maybe I would be able to have such an operating system in 1975, and it is completely possible.

As for Thunder Labs, Catherine originally planned to use a blue hummingbird as the logo, but after thinking about it, Catherine changed the icon to a more sci-fi standard.

After all, the word "Thunder" is originally very sci-fi. Using a hummingbird, how can there be such a sci-fi style logo?

It can be said that a major reform has begun within Catherine's ark. It can be said that she only reads books about sages and ignores what is going on outside the window.

Logically speaking, IBM should be very happy at this time.

But in fact, it is not the case...