Reborn Tech Maniac

Chapter 727 1G Capacity Hard Disk
It seems that the community property is painting the walls and the network is cut off. Fortunately, I have already gained experience and found an emergency solution without going to an Internet cafe.

……

These days, the current situation of NeXT Company has been summarized in Tang Huan's hands. However, this was the first time he heard about Canon's capital injection, but after thinking about it, he was relieved.

Just like in the original time and space, Jobs never paid a visit to China in his life, so that he failed to give the fans who praised him a chance to smell him, but he frequently visited another country in Asia-Japan.

At this stage, Jobs is still a frequent visitor to Japan, and the research and development of the NeXT project has received important support from the Japanese industry.

According to the design, in the external memory system solution of NeXT computer, in addition to the hard disk, there is also a device called magneto-optical disk to replace the floppy disk with small capacity and slow read and write speed, and the CD with large capacity but large volume. -ROM.

The technical realization principle of magneto-optical discs is the Kerr effect, that is, an effect in which a substance changes its refractive index in response to an external electric field. Many Japanese companies, including Canon and Sony, are actively researching in this field.

Tang Huan, who is familiar with the technology development roadmap, of course knows the application concept of magneto-optical disks, so he has little interest and no motivation to get involved in this field.

Sony is so active in the research and development of magneto-optical discs, because consumer electronics products such as walkmans are one of its main businesses, but CD players have obvious shortcomings-the equipment is too large, and It cannot be erased and written, and the magneto-optical walkman can solve this problem to a large extent.

In the original time and space, Sony did succeed in this direction, and finally launched the popular MD Walkman, until it was defeated by MP3 players.

However, the scope of application of magneto-optical disks is quite limited, mainly concentrated in Japan.

Of course, the magneto-optical disc at this stage is still a new and vibrant thing.The magneto-optical disk computer storage solution provided by Canon met Jobs's demanding requirements on the size of the NeXT computer case, and then became the standard storage device for NeXT computers.

Naturally, Canon, fooled by NeXT's glamorous background, hoped to become the sole supplier of magneto-optical disk storage devices for NeXT computers, and there was no safer way than becoming a shareholder of NeXT Corporation.

It can only be said that Japan is too rich now, and Canon doesn’t mind being fooled into spending [-] million U.S. dollars to gamble on a future.

Regarding Tang Huan's obvious tease, Jobs nodded calmly, "It must be admitted that having your name on NeXT's shareholder list will indeed bring some unique conveniences."

Tang Huan slowly put away his smile, picked up the cup in front of him calmly, and took a shallow sip.Gein Jobs wouldn't be so eloquent about giving credit to others.If something goes wrong, there must be a demon. Next, this guy must have something difficult to pass up.

Sure enough, I just heard Jobs continue: "I'm going to hold a press conference for the NeXT computer, do you have time to attend?"

"Should be no problem." Tang Huan nodded.

"I heard that the latest version of Zheru's graphical user interface operating system, studioOS1988, is also going to be released in the first half of the year?" Jobs demanded brazenly, "Why don't you leave the first half of the year for NeXT computers, and wait until the second half of the year to release studioOS1988?" .Since you like the number '8' so much, why not schedule the release on August 8, or even start at 8:8:8 on that day. This suggestion I gave you is definitely creative, right?"

Seeing Jobs' inexplicable complacency, Tang Huan shook his head, and said angrily, "Is this bad idea creative? Do you really think that among my many subordinates, no one thought of doing it at this point in time?" Positive article?"

"It's just that I feel that if you deliberately pursue the many coincidences at this point in time, you will eventually lose everything in the end. Apart from wasting money and people, there is no real benefit, so I refused."

"It doesn't matter." Jobs waved his hand impatiently, "Then do you agree or not that the NeXT computer and studioOS1988 conferences were held at the wrong time to avoid wasting their respective publicity resources."

Tang Huan raised his eyebrows: "You have to let me see exactly how the NeXT computer has been developed before we can talk about the press conference. Otherwise, wouldn't it be too much if studioOS1988 gave way to a crappy guy? Not worth it anymore.”

"What a joke, will my NeXT be crappy?" Jobs snorted, "Anyway, it's basically done. We can go take a look now."

NeXT, like EA, is located in Redwood City in the San Francisco Bay Area.Not far from here in Cupertino.

Tang Huan glanced at the time and found that there was still plenty of time, so he ordered his assistant to "call for friends" and go to visit together.

Although the prospect of the NeXT computer may not be very good, Tang Huan believes that it can definitely exert the "catfish effect" and inspire his subordinates in a certain way.

Seeing this scene, Jobs, who was powerless to stop him, could only say angrily: "Go, go, let's all go. This is just a preview of the press conference."

Tang Huan patted Jobs on the shoulder with a smile, and comforted him, "They have always been strict with their mouths, and they won't let your press conference lose its sense of mystery."

……

Regardless of the fact that NeXT does not have any significant sales revenue, its office is not only not shabby, but so luxurious that it can only be described as "as expected of a modern technology company". Even the carrot juice for entertaining guests, Both are the most expensive Odwalla cards.

Seeing the surprised expressions of many people, Jobs said proudly: "We are in Redwood City with EA, but there is also an advantage, that is, we can always find the latest games in our entertainment room."

The corner of Tang Huan's mouth twitched, and he really wanted to say, "Currently, NeXT is still in its inception stage, and such extravagant ostentation is simply burning money for fooling around."

The engineers of the NeXT team are very excited to show their masterpieces to Tang Huan and others.This product that keeps skipping tickets has finally revealed its true colors.

Many of the people led by Jobs came from Apple, so following their technical accumulation and habits, the CPU they chose for the NeXT computer was still a Motorola series of microprocessors.

Originally, NeXT also wanted to catch up with the fashion and catch the current vigorous RISC luxury car. Unfortunately, Motorola's RISC microprocessor MC88000 did not go well, and finally had to return to the MC68000 series CPU.

Unlike Intel, Motorola does not hold on to its own Intel80386 and does not release the license to second suppliers. Second suppliers of MC68000 can be said to be everywhere, especially in Japan, where many companies are able to manufacture MC68000-compatible microprocessors.

It is conceivable that Tang Huan's monopoly of high-end MC68000 by relying on his own high-end fab was inevitably broken.After process optimization, MC68000 with lower power consumption and faster operating frequency has become popular.

The microprocessor used in NeXT computers is the MC25 running at 68030MHz.

In terms of memory capacity, Jobs' NeXT computer is finally generous, with configurations ranging from 8MB to 64MB.

The hard disk is also indispensable, and a 40MB hard disk is specially used as a swap partition disk to support the virtual memory function of the operating system NeXTSTEP.You can also choose a hard drive with a capacity of 330MB or 660MB for data access, and this accessory will cost at least another $2500.

For workstations, only one hard disk with a capacity of 40MB is standardly configured, and it is also used as a swap partition disk for the operating system. The user's daily data access needs are bound to be greatly restricted.

The solution given by NeXT computer is magneto-optical disk, which is equipped with a magneto-optical disk with a capacity of up to 256MB provided by Canon as a standard storage device.

Tang Huan took a look at the demonstration. The read and write speed of the magneto-optical disk is indeed ideal, but there is also a problem, the response is a bit slow. For example, when the device starts to work, it seems to test the patience of the user.

NeXT computers also support Ethernet, which is not surprising, after all, network functions are now standard.

Tang Huan's gaze stayed on the black 17-inch NeXT computer monitor, and did not leave for a long time.

In addition to having a resolution of 1120×832 pixels, this monitor also integrates a mono microphone, mono speakers, two-channel RCA terminals, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a keyboard socket.

It can be seen that NeXT computer has made a lot of effort in multimedia support.

Seeing Tang Huan staring at the curved monitor stand, Jobs proudly demonstrated it, "This monitor can adjust the tilt angle, and I have applied for a patent for it."

Tang Huan gave his thumbs up sincerely. He can only guide his own products technically, and he really doesn't have the heart to manage such a detailed place.

Overall, with an absolutely perfect cube, with each side being exactly one foot long, each corner being 90 degrees, and a creative display, the NeXT computer looked gorgeous and full of the art that Jobs was passionate about. Breath, can definitely impress first-timers in appearance.

However, in terms of actual functions, the NeXT computer can only be said to be average - even if Jobs deliberately reserved in the demonstration, he could not escape Tang Huan's eyes.

"Has the price of the NeXT computer been fixed?" Tang Huan asked smoothly.

Jobs glanced at his subordinates and said in a low voice: "These people are keen to launch a mass product with a price of no more than $4000, but I will announce it on the day of the press conference, and the price will be $6500."

"If it's this price, it's really not expensive. After all, it's a workstation product, and it's full of creativity." Tang Huan nodded.

Just in his heart, Tang Huan believed that the $6500 that Jobs said was still fooling users.

Not to mention that the essential printer will be expensive, but the NeXT computer's innovative use of magneto-optical disks forces users to configure an additional hard disk, and even consider whether it is possible to install a floppy disk.

Because the current NeXT computer storage system solution can only share data through the network. If you want to share data freely between users like a floppy disk - no way.

The NeXT project team should not have missed such a simple problem, but if they persisted in doing so, it can only be said that these people were confused by Jobs.

Finally, Jobs brought up the topic again, "How about my NeXT, is it worth studioOS1988 giving way in the release time?"

It has to be said that although Jobs has always been arrogant, he is also very realistic. He knows that the fledgling NeXT, no matter how good it is, will definitely not be able to compete with the combination of Fangyuan Computer and studioOS that has formed a real system, so he came to Tang Huan for coordination.

"I can agree to your proposal." After Tang Huan gave a clear answer, he changed the topic, "However, you also have to promise me one condition, that is, to be serious and kind to the cooperation between NeXTSTEP and IBM personal computer platform." Be enthusiastic."

Jobs' complexion changed, and he questioned, "What do you mean, do you look down on my NeXT?"

"I didn't mean that, but I had other considerations." Tang Huan turned around expressionlessly and continued to visit with his hands behind his back.

Jobs thought for a while, then chased after him with a smile, "I see, you are really insidious. You want my NeXTSTEP to destroy the alliance between the IBM personal computer camp and the Microsoft operating system. I heard that although Gates I tried my best to lobby, but the macro language of Zheru Office software still didn't adopt Microsoft's BASIC. Is this why your relationship is at a standstill?"

Tang Huan said noncommittally, "Whatever you think, NeXT won't suffer anyway."

……

After visiting Steve Jobs' NeXT, Tang Huan attended the signing ceremony for Seagate's merger with Control Data Corporation's hard drive division business. When asked by reporters, he talked about one of the latest technological achievements of Zheru R&D Center - the giant magnetoresistance effect. The discovery and application in hard disk technology.

"As early as 1980, IBM launched a hard disk product with a capacity of up to 1.26GB and a price of 40000 US dollars. It was the size of a refrigerator and weighed 249 kilograms."

"The discovery and application of the giant magnetoresistance effect can achieve a higher unit storage density, and provide a capacity of more than 5.25G in a 3.5-inch hard drive or even a 1-inch hard drive."

(End of this chapter)