Blooming America

Chapter 231 IBM's Press and Thunder Lab

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

At the box office of hundreds of millions of dollars, there are probably tens of millions of dollars in the account.

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

At this time, the development of the personal version of the Phoenix-Stargate system is almost complete.

Of course, this is the earliest Alpha version, not even the 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 this CPU, it has been specially optimized.

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

Although the design has been completed, the 2D renderers are currently used. Although in the eyes of people of this era, Catherine's pictures are very beautiful, but Catherine herself does not like it.

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

But I don't know why, Catherine thought this thing seemed interesting.

Sitting in the office, Catherine asked Elsa to bring all the information about the microcomputer. Catherine was going to see how much difference her product had made from the historical ones.

In Catherine's view, the rapid development of her computer is not the CPU, but the memory.

The earliest memory, in fact, was also 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.

At first, the memory was very small.

But then I don’t know who it was. The large-scale use of expensive field-effect transistors in memory, although the price is high, buyers are still eager for it.

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

After the start of large-scale production, the price of products has also become lower and lower due to competition with each other, and, in contrast, the capacity of memory has also been greatly improved.

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

Generally speaking, the hard disk should be the place where the operating system, software, and games are installed. But now, this is not the case. The development of hard disks is seriously lagging behind other industries. In this regard, Catherine can’t circumvent IBM’s patents. Their hard disks are in fact the prototypes of future hard disks, but unfortunately, The size of this hard disk is too big...

Therefore, at present, the storage in the computer is more used to store some user settings and the like, rather than to store the software itself.

Catherine’s optical drive will undoubtedly aggravate this situation in the future. Today’s computers have been very different from the future...

At this moment, Sanders walked in and he could see that his face was very strange.

"Miss, I have three pieces of news for you, one good, one bad, and one good or not. Which one do you like to listen to first?"

"First say the good ones, then the bad ones, and finally the bad ones."

"The research on the Z80 microcontroller has been successful, and a researcher named Federico Fan Jin is the hero of this research."

"Oh, nice"

The Z80 single-chip microcomputer has been researched out. At least in the next 30 years, I don't have to worry about myself in the field of single-chip microcomputers. After all, some of the data that such a single-chip microcomputer needs to process is very small, and 8-bit computers can already be used.

"Wait... That researcher, you said... what is his name?"

"Federico Fankin."

"Um... OK, 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 single-chip microcomputer.

Catherine never knew that Fan Jin was in her company

I almost buried a talent

Catherine almost "came from the crime": "Necessary for Federico's promotion"

"Okay, I see. So, Miss Edson, can I tell you the second news?"

"Say it."

Sanders took out a report and handed it to Catherine: "Last month, IBM’s 360 mainframe sales were 5,000 units. Their market share on mainframes has further expanded. We seem to have encountered Some trouble."

"You...I heard that right, right?"

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

"How is this going?"

Catherine looked at the report, but was taken aback.

"mine"

In the end, Catherine couldn't help but burst into a swear 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 extension of the 360 ​​mainframe.

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

What makes Catherine embarrassed is that when the other party is still promoting the 360 ​​computer, by the way, help Catherine to promote the computer.

But this is not to prove that IBM is ready to reconcile ARK, on ​​the contrary, they are slapped ARK fiercely.

In this case... Has your own computer soon become an accessory of IBM's 360?

Is tolerable or unbearable

The interface technology of the cassette, Katherine, is open, just like the history of USB defeating the IEEE1394 interface, and the world is proud of it.

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

IBM is just like a wise man with a scheming plan. There is no rabbit or an eagle. Although Catherine's previous tricks have disturbed IBM by surprise, and the other party has been trapped in judicial investigations, IBM, who has recovered, immediately used their power the power of. Catherine's products immediately turned from a stumbling block to their help.

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

"Maybe it is, but it may be... they are just making a fake move. And even if it is a new structure, they are probably entering the Japanese market first."

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

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

"Uh... this thing is that someone opened an arcade game hall in New York."

"This is a good thing?" Catherine asked strangely.

"Yes, but the New York police are very dissatisfied with this."

"Why?" Do you want to bribe?

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

A long line of people queuing to play games gathered in front of the arcade game hall every time.

Generally speaking, such game halls usually appear in hotels or billiard rooms, where drinks and beverages are served. This dedicated arcade game hall is no exception.

The boss seems to be a fan of game consoles. He seems to have opened this arcade game hall because of his interest, but because of its small size, he never thought that his game hall would be so popular.

If there are more people waiting, there will be more people drinking, and as there will be more people drinking, there will be more troubles.

Although the law and order in New York is not very good, the face-saving project should be maintained, right? As a result, this arcade game hall became a cancer in the eyes of the New York police.

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

"In fact, I don't quite understand what they think. Not only that, but also the protest letter from the Alcohol Rehabilitation Association." Sanders shrugged.

Catherine took the protest letter.

Then, she found 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 that the supply of electronic entertainment equipment is sufficient, and prohibit the sale of any alcoholic beverages in the game hall.

Although Catherine wanted to spit out the other side, alcohol prohibition was the subject of the other party, but she still knew that similar things would only increase from now on.

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

"Acquisition?"

"Yes, for the New York police, they just want to save face, and for those prohibition associations... just tell them," Catherine scratched her head. "We have copied it... By the way, we opened one on the 7th floor. Bar."

This is 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 plant is put into production."

Catherine had enough headaches.

"What about IBM?"

"That still needs to be said" Catherine almost came up with the crime, "Of course we used a faster speed to eliminate the IBM 360."

"This……"

"Increase the investment even if the loan is good, let Cray hurry up and study our new mainframe."

At this time, Clay can only stop working on the graphics operating system of the mainframe.

"We must do everything we can to make IBM's 360 become a must for a pile of scrap iron."

Catherine roared.

IBM in this era is possessed by the protagonist's halo, it is really the gods blocking and killing the gods, and the Buddha blocking and killing the Buddha. Catherine's behavior cannot stop the rise of IBM.

Catherine was arrogant, and Sanders was a little helpless.

"Miss, this is not a simple matter."

Sanders said.

At this time, Catherine was weakly able to reach the ground.

"Okay, so be it"

Watching Catherine calm down for the time being, Sanders continued: "In fact, even if we develop a new supercomputer, it is not necessary for enterprises. We have to develop a bunch of killer applications. May enter this monopolistic market... it's a bunch."

"Is there no other way?"

Catherine was a little discouraged.

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

Historically, fluorescent discs with terabytes of storage can be blocked, not to mention Catherine's supercomputer, which is seriously under-capacity.

"In fact, the technical department has already held a meeting on this, and Olsen said to me,'Maybe we will rub Aladdin's magic lamp, but there is some hope.'"

Sanders is no longer authentic.

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

Catherine talked and could only let Sanders leave first.

These things couldn't be anxious, and Catherine could only sit in a chair languidly in the end.

"Drink, Kate." Elsa put a cup of black tea in front of Catherine.

"Really, that old man Watson, why does he keep having trouble with us?"

Catherine couldn't figure it out.

"Because they are IBM, and here is ARK."

Catherine shrugged.

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

Catherine felt that her company should do something.

Nowadays, the hardware of computers cannot keep up with the software, not the other way around. So many times, the development of software is limited by the hardware, not as in the future, the development of software cannot keep up with the upgrading of hardware.

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

However, after the 64-bit CPU began to appear, people's cheers were not so strong, and some people even looked down on 64-bit CPUs. Because they believe that such a CPU is really unnecessary.

The former is limited by the development of software, while the latter is the development of software, which cannot fully tap the potential of hardware.

The best way to get rid of IBM's 360 is undoubtedly to introduce a microcomputer that can replace today's mainframes in function-but unfortunately, it will take at least 10-15 years for this kind of thing to be gradually realized.

Catherine suddenly thought of cross-patent licensing.

But it is clear that IBM is now in a glorious period of occupying more than 76% of the large market. Catherine does not intend to put her hot face on her cold ass.

"He is strong, he is strong, the breeze is blowing on the hills; he is horizontal, the moon is shining on the river..."

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

——She has a way.

Then, starting from the second day, Catherine was fully restructured and ARK company.

First, Catherine introduced a competition mechanism for the company. In this way, a project may be developed back-to-back by multiple groups. In order to prevent mutual tearing down and strengthen cooperation, Catherine announced that everyone's pension will be linked to the benefits of the entire company instead of the previous departments.

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

The so-called option is the right to buy stocks at a certain price, such as the current market price, within a certain period of time, such as ten years. Employees who have obtained options will have a sense of responsibility for the company. If the company’s stock rises, then people with stock options can buy the stock at a low price in the past, the so-called se, and then sell it at the current high price, making the difference—of course, because Catherine’s company is not Listed companies, so this method is obviously inappropriate.

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

The employees got the benefits, they immediately cheered up, and the company's efficiency suddenly improved to a new level.

In addition to these measures, Catherine also asked each department to formulate a minimum program and a maximum program, which is the goal of the employees' efforts.

In addition, Catherine once again took out tens of millions of dollars, and once again established a new laboratory-Thunder Lab.

The main body of the Thunder Lab is the Eight Rebellions. The purpose of this lab is to study GPU technology.

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

Although "in history" Intel only took 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" , Ws95 can not be installed, it is completely cheating.

But... what if there is an auxiliary processing device that is more powerful than the CPU?

In that case, can you "run into communism"?

This idea is good, and it can be realized.

The origin of Bill Gates' hegemony ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ was derived from ws3.1, and then consolidated during the ws95 period.

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

Maybe it took 10 years to see a system like ws95, but with GPU, maybe I could have such an operating system in 1975, and it's completely possible

As for the Thunder Lab, Catherine originally planned to use a blue hummingbird, but after thinking about it, Catherine replaced the icon with a more sci-fi standard.

After all, the word "Xunlei" is originally sci-fi. With hummingbirds, how can there be such a sci-fi color?

Inside Catherine's ARK, it can be said that a major reform has begun. It can be said that it is only reading the sage books and turning a blind eye to things outside the window.

It stands to reason that IBM at this time should be very happy.

But in fact, it's not like that...