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 the ABC-3 computer has actually 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 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 that of 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 been able to win over PC programmers.

The fundamental reason for this is that you can run programs written in high-level languages more than programs written in assembly languages. Higher performance requirements for hardware. Especially for memory usage, high-capacity memory in this era is a very expensive accessory. So the 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 case. With the rapid development of computer hardware technology, this is about to change. 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 a high-level language based on C.

Although as a result of this, the minimum memory configuration of the ABC-3 computer spikes to 128K, and if the memory is too small, it simply can't run these software. 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 is because the memory price war between US and Japanese semiconductor companies is intensifying. Early 1981. Hitachi's 64K DRAM memory was quoted at $50 per piece from Aikan. But by June, Hitachi's latest offer had been lowered to $33. Now that various semiconductor companies are working hard to develop 256K memory, it is estimated that it should be able to come out next year, and the price of 128K memory will definitely fall in an avalanche by then.

Aikang has preset two memory slots for the ABC-3 computer, and 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, wait for the price of 128k memory modules to drop in the future, and then upgrade on their own.

At the same time, Dongfang Software Company has long been fully engaged in the development of programming tools in C language, including practical compilers, interpreters, syntax analyzers, etc. Oriental Software puts these software development kits. and a portion of the technical interface materials of the DOS system, which are widely licensed 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 developing. Started to take the initiative to participate in the development of 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's experience.

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

There is a limit to the number of things that can be stored on a floppy disk. Moreover, 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, Aikang abandoned the LAN technology developed by the company and switched to the Ethernet technology standard. The DIX Alliance, consisting of DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation), Intel Corporation (Intel), and Xerox Corporation (Xerox), released the Blue Paper on Ethernet technology standards, and Akon became 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, and the day after 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 reporting the news of Aikang's new computer.

With a fierce advertising pitch. 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. Local microcomputer products sold in the Japanese market. Most of them are Apple-compatible devices made by some small companies.

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

"Your company uses Epson printers, no problem, Aikang and Epson are one of the strategic partners. We have partnered with Epson to connect with Guò and are already working on the operating system of the ABC-3 computer. Drivers for various models of Epson printers have been developed, and if you buy a computer, we can install the corresponding driver software for you for free!" In the Osaka store of the computer park company, a shopping guide is patiently explaining to customers how to use the printer through the guò 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 managed stores.

The use of computers in enterprise 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 shell out money for an ABC-3 computer. 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-spec ABC-3 computer is also priced at 750,000 yen in Japan. Naturally, it is impossible to sell tens of thousands of units a day like the Gameboy console, which costs only 5,000 yen.

The reason why sales in the Japanese market are good is largely due to the weakness of competitors. The best-selling microcomputer products on the market were Apple's Apple series of computers. In fact, Apple did not conduct special research and development 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 a local peripheral equipment company in Japan. The problem of Apple computers being incompatible with Japanese was solved with a compatible card, which allowed Apple to open up the Japanese market. But Apple computers are only 8-bit phones. After all, the overall performance is limited, and 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.

The year 1981 was the most difficult 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 his management has moved on to the burgeoning PC industry, no longer ignoring the rapidly changing market.

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% all of a sudden.

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