The ABC-3 computer's progress over the previous ABC-2 is not just a change to a more powerful processor. The latest version of the East-DOS operating system running on ABC-3 computers has undergone significant changes while maintaining forward compatibility.

Previous versions of the DOS system were written in assembly language, which had the advantages of high efficiency, good hardware control, and small program size. In early days when hardware performance lagged behind and every ounce of potential needed to be tapped, the benefits of assembly language were clear.

But assembly language also has a huge disadvantage, that is, it is not portable and not easy to maintain. For example, if the ABC-3 computer does not use the original 6502 processor, but uses the new 32-bit ERM-1 processor, if the new ABC-3 computer wants to continue to use the East-DOS system of the previous ABC-1 computer, the amount of work required to modify the program is similar to writing a new system.

The high-level language, represented by the C language, is highly portable and has good cross-platform characteristics. For example, a C program written in standard specifications on the East-DOS operating system can be run on the CP/M operating system with minor modifications, which is unthinkable for a program written in assembly language.

Moreover, C language also has the advantage of easy maintenance, a program must be constantly modified after it is written, which is a difficult problem for assembly language, but easy to implement for C language. For all their advantages, high-level languages such as C have never won over PC programmers.

The root cause of this is running programs written in high-level languages. Compared with running programs written in assembly language, the performance requirements of the hardware are higher. Especially for memory usage, high-capacity memory in this era is a very expensive accessory. So C language was invented in 1972. Throughout the seventies, it was used only for small and mainframe platforms, and very few people would use it to write software for personal computers.

But this situation is about to change with the rapid development of computer hardware technology. And Li Xuan relied on the advantage of rebirth to become the first person to eat crabs one step ahead of others. Dongfang Software Co., Ltd. has rewritten its East-DOS, East-Word, East-Table and East-DBASE software in high-level languages mainly in C.

As a result, though, the ABC-3 computer's minimum memory configuration skyrocketed to 128K. If the memory is too small, you can't run these software at all. And now the memory of mainstream personal computers is only a dozen K, twenty K capacity.

The reason why Li Xuan dared to do this. Or is it because the memory price war between U.S. and Japanese semiconductor companies is intensifying. In early 1981, Hitachi's 64K DRAM memory was quoted at $50 per piece for Aikan. But by June, Hitachi's latest offer had been lowered to $33. At present, various semiconductor companies are working 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 fall like an avalanche.

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

At the same time, Dongfang Software has long been fully engaged in the development of programming tools in C language, including practical compilers, interpreters, syntax analyzers, etc. Dongfang Software Corporation has widely licensed these software development kits, as well as some technical interface materials of the DOS system, to other software companies to help them better develop various software suitable for the DOS operating system.

With ABC computers occupying a significant market share in the United States. More and more software developers are taking the initiative to develop third-party software for the East-DOS operating system. In this regard, Dongfang Software Company naturally fully supports. The richer the software that can be run on the system, the better the user experience will feel.

In addition to the upgrade of the software vendor, the new ABC-3 computer has also made a lot of hardware upgrades, such as the new standardized and modular design of the motherboard, and the design and layout of various digital interfaces and expansion card slots are more reasonable. At the same time, the ABC-3 computer has added a hard disk to store several disks on the basis of the original 5.25-inch floppy drive.

After all, the number of data that can be stored on a floppy disk is limited, and for some users who use the East-DBASE data library software, many data have to be used frequently, and they have to read and write multiple floppy disks every time, which is not only inefficient but also cumbersome to operate. It is also easy to lose important numbers due to the damage and loss of floppy disks, so it is not as convenient and safe as directly saving the hard disk of the zài computer.

At the same time, a new Ethernet card interface is also designed in the motherboard of the new computer. On the ABC-3 computer, Akon abandoned its previous self-developed LAN technology and switched to the Ethernet technical standard. The DIX Alliance, consisting of DEC Corporation (Digital Equipment Corporation), Intel Corporation (Intel) and Xerox Corporation (Xerox), has published the Blue Paper on Ethernet technology standards, and ICON Corporation has become the first PC company to support the DIX standard.

After the negotiation between Aikang and the DIX Alliance, the technologies such as PC Ethernet cards, repeaters and hubs developed by Aikang have been incorporated into the standards of the DIX Alliance.

LAN is definitely one of the most important selling points in the field of ABC computer development and commercial office. Dongfang Software Co., Ltd. has developed a new shared network software based on the previous LAN technology of Aikang Computer, combined with the latest Wenjiàn server technology. It adopts the protocol developed by Dongfang Software itself, which can easily realize the sharing and printing of texts. With the help of this software, companies and universities can easily connect their computers to the Internet.

The media will always give great enthusiasm for the emergence of new technologies, the second day of the new product launch of Aikang in New York. The New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal all devoted a lot of space to the news of the release of Elcon's new computer.

With the fierce advertising promotion, the ABC-3 computer was officially put on sale in dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. The latest sales boom is not in the U.S., but in Japan.

The Japanese PC market really started to sprout after Apple came along. The Japanese electronics giants, on the other hand, seem to have focused their energies on semiconductors and competing with American companies, rather than developing eye-catching PC products. Most of the local microcomputer products sold in the Japanese market are Apple-compatible machines produced by some small companies.

The launch of the ABC-3 computer in the Japanese market was like throwing a boulder on the surface of a calm lake, and it immediately set off a wave of waves. The Japanese version of the East-DOS operating system has special support for the Japanese display of the computer adapter, and cooperates with the Japanese input method specially developed by Oriental Software Company. It really made it possible to work on a Japanese-language computer.

"Your company uses Epson printers, no problem, Aikang and Epson are one of the strategic partners. We work with Epson Corporation. Drivers for various models of Epson printers have been developed on the operating system of ABC-3 computers, and if you buy a computer, we can install the corresponding driver software for you free of charge!" A shopping guide is patiently introducing to customers. How to use the printer through a computer.

Japan and Europe are among the overseas markets that Computer Park has recently focused on developing. In the past month, the company has opened five new computer hypermarkets in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto and other places, and the launch of the ABC-3 computer has brought the first wave of sales to the computer park's Japanese directly operated stores.

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

Li Xuan only learned from the report sent back by the Japanese branch of Computer Park that the ABC-3 computer sold well after it was launched, but the specific sales number was not counted. The lowest priced ABC-3 computer in Japan. It is also as high as 750,000 yen, so it is naturally impossible to sell tens of thousands of units a day like the GameBoy console, which only costs 5,000 yen.

Sales in the Japanese market are very good. A big reason is that the competitors are too weak. The best-selling microcomputer products on the market were Apple's Apple series of computers. In fact, Apple does not conduct research and development specifically for the Japanese market, but Apple computers have an open architecture, allowing third-party companies to produce all kinds of peripheral function cards.

It is also the local peripheral equipment company in Japan that solves the problem of Apple computers being incompatible with Japanese with compatible cards, so that Apple can open up the Japanese market smoothly. However, the Apple computer is only an 8-bit computer, and the overall performance is limited after all, so it is a little reluctant to use it for business office. It can be said that the ABC-3 computer has no real competitors in the Japanese market.

But the U.S. market is different, and IBM, a giant company, is about to enter the fray. Less than half a month after the ABC-3 computer was launched, IBM announced that it would hold a new microcomputer product launch conference in New York on August 12 to officially enter the personal computer market.

1981 was the most difficult year 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 his management is no longer oblivious to the rapidly changing market and has begun to enter the nascent PC industry.

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

At the same time, the stock prices of other PC companies have fallen as a result. Among them, Apple's stock price fell by more than 3%, and the stock price of Aikang in London also fell by 1.5%, which shows IBM's huge deterrent to the public. (To be continued......)