The 80s were the decade of microcomputers. In the next 30 years, most of the most important companies in the computer industry, Microsoft, Intel, Apple, Dell, Compaq, most of them laid the foundation in the 80s.

Microsoft will also not realize that it will develop in the future by relying on the operation system of DOS, INDOS and other PC computers.

Intel also did not realize that its main business in the future is to make CPUs for PC computers, and it will become the most profitable semiconductor company in Silicon Valley.

Before IBM launched the PC plan, companies such as Microsoft and Intel could only look up to Apple, which had risen like a dark horse, with jealousy.

You must know that Apple was only founded in April 1976, and it has become the hegemon in the field of microcomputers in a few years.

However, in the era of PC computers, IBM chose to cooperate with Microsoft, Intel and other companies to vigorously promote the influence of PC computers. Apple, on the other hand, disdains to follow the trend of PCs and produces Apple computers on its own, trying to fight against IBM's PCs.

But after the mid-80s, Apple computers were finally reduced to niche computers, and although they had millions of die-hard fans, they could only watch more than 95% of the world's personal computers become the world of PC computers. Because of Apple's mismanagement, shareholders shirked their responsibilities and actually kicked Jobs out of the board. However, after driving out Jobs, Apple sank more and more.

After Jobs left Apple, he started his own business, but it was impressive, and Apple shareholders had to invite Jobs back to clean up the mess. It wasn't until the beginning of the 21st century that Jobs aimed at the MP3 field and launched the iPod, and when piracy was rampant in the MP3 market, Apple decided to cooperate with record companies to provide genuine music downloads, which won the support of most record companies and also gained wide support from music listeners, which was a great success. In order to sell genuine music, Apple developed a set of online stores that sell genuine music, and later this music sales store gradually became an Apple App Store that sells apps, games, e-books, movies, including Vientiane, and any entertainment resources. Later, the core charm of the Apple mobile phone, iPhone, and tablet iPad, all lie in the application of Vientiane on the Apple computer.

Of course, in 80 years, Apple's operating income has exceeded $100 million, and its annual profit has exceeded tens of millions of dollars. Although Apple's influence is greater than that of Microsoft and Intel in this matter.

But compared with a giant like IBM, which has sales of tens of billions of dollars, Apple's strength is hundreds of times worse! Later, the PC computer defeated the Apple computer, which was actually a very unfair competition, just like the unfairness of hundreds of people beating a few people and triumphantly declaring victory.

After the computer was bought, both Shaohuai and the Mei sisters couldn't put it down.

However, here's the problem – no one is going to do it.

Although Zhang Shaojie has experience in making PC computers, he will only use it under the premise of having an indos system. As for Apple computers, it is easy for computer technicians to learn to use it, but it is a headache for Zhang Shaojie and others!

The Appleii is an 8-bit microcomputer, this computer has a Motorola 6502 processor, a CPU speed of only 1MHz, 48KB of memory integrated into the circuit board, and no hard disk! Originally, it was only pre-installed with Microsoft's basic language interpreter as a system. If you're willing to add some money, you can buy a copy of the DOS on Apple's system!

However, the four Apple computers that Zhang Shaojie bought only have one set of basic, which can be used to write programs, and everyone can only look at high-tech products and sigh!

"Brother, why don't you find a computer master and teach us! I can use my evenings to learn about the computer! Besides, it's almost winter vacation, and if you learn how to use a computer during the whole winter vacation, it's not a waste of time! Shaohuai said.

"Well, I want to start from scratch too!" Zhang Shaojie agreed.

If you want to learn, you must find a master who has real talent and real learning. Zhang Shaojie asked a professor of computer science from the University of Hong Kong to teach computer knowledge to himself and others at home.

Jin Yong has established a good relationship with the University of Hong Kong, because Jin Yong has donated millions to the University of Hong Kong. With Jin Yong's help, Zhang Shaojie contacted a computer professor who had returned from overseas at the University of Hong Kong.

The professor is in his 40s. His name is Huang Tingjun.

Originally, Huang Tingjun saw the business opportunities in the American personal computer industry and was ready to show his skills, but later, as Apple computers swept the market, Huang Tingjun's company only sold 5 computers, and announced its dissolution because of the bleak future.

Last year, Wong Ting-kwan was invited by the University of Hong Kong to start teaching. Because Zhang Shaojie's price is 500 Hong Kong dollars an hour's lecture fee, and Huang Tingjun does owe a lot of debt because of opening a company, he is financially embarrassed.

also degraded his dignity and went to Zhang Shaojie's home to tutor him in computer courses.

"Hello, Mr. Huang!" Zhang Shaojie said respectfully.

Huang Tingjun nodded slightly and said: "Zhang Shaojie, you are not simple, you are only 17 years old, and you have become a famous writer in Hong Kong!" What is even more rare is that you can be intellectually aware of the importance of knowledge. But why would you want to learn computers? ”

Zhang Shaojie said with a smile: "I have always believed that the development of computers will have a profound impact on all aspects of human society. The times are rolling forward, if you can't keep up with the trend of the times, no matter how rich and status, you are still a laggard abandoned by the times! While you are still young and able to absorb and learn new things, it obviously doesn't hurt to learn a little more computer knowledge! ”

Then Zhang Shaojie introduced Shaohuai, Anita Mui, and Mei Aifang to Professor Huang, saying that the three of them would also observe.

Professor Huang Tingjun didn't care, teaching one is teaching, and teaching four people is also teaching.

When you get started with any academic, you must explain the historical and humanistic background of this academic, and if you don't understand the development background of an industry, you can't better grasp a discipline.

The same goes for computer literacy.

The first day of classes.

Huang Tingjun started with mechanical calculators hundreds of years ago, and mechanical computers were divided into the first generation of computers.

Later, in the 40s, the tube computer developed in the United States belonged to the second generation of computers. At this time, the efficiency of computers was greatly improved compared to the first generation of computers.

After World War II, the application of semiconductors made the computer industry enter the era of the third generation of computers. It was in this era that Silicon Valley emerged—Bell engineer Shockley invented the transistor, Texas Instruments became the first company in the semiconductor industry to operate commercially, Shockley created Fairchild, and Fairchild rebelled out of the school.

And at the beginning of the 70s, integrated circuits were used on a large scale, and the fourth generation of computers gradually took shape. The fourth generation of computer chips contains more and more components, and computers can become more and more powerful. And, microcomputers began to appear

For mainframes, both 16-bit and 32-bit chips exist. However, the chips used in today's microcomputers are basically 8-bit chips.

Huang Tingjun said: "Appleii is an 8-bit microcomputer using Motorola 6502 chip, which is enough for learning basic computer knowledge and writing some simple programs for individuals. However, just learning how to use an Apple computer is not enough to get started with computers."

"How do you get started?" Shaohuai raised his hand and asked.

Huang Tingjun said with a smile: "That is, read more and practice more." Software, hardware, all kinds of computer knowledge, are widely involved. Not only to 'know what it is', but also to 'know why it is'! However, it is difficult for one person's energy to take care of everything, so some people are proficient in software and some are proficient in hardware. I don't know, what do you want to learn? ”

"Let's start with software programming languages," says Zhang.

Huang Tingjun said with more interest: "Okay, then in the future, our main course is to learn computer programming languages!" Software is a program, is a series of computer instructions, the software program directs the computer-related hardware to complete the corresponding actions, to achieve a certain function, it can be said that the software program is the soul of the computer. Without software, a computer is like a car without gasoline, and it doesn't work at all."

To understand a piece of knowledge, it is necessary to understand the history of such knowledge. With Huang Tingjun's narration, everyone began to immerse themselves in the development history of the early software industry

The earliest programmer was the poet Byron's daughter Ade, in 1834 Adele met the mechanical computer designer Adecy, and the imaginative girl Adele for mathematics designed the most primitive program for Abbic - binary code composed of 0 and 1!

Binary code is a program that has been widely used for more than 100 years in the era of punching machines.

Huang Tingjun said: "Binary code, we call it 'machine code'! In the era of punching machines, reading 'machine codes' was a headache, and no one could read the meaning of binary codes without using a specific codebook. Imagine, a slip of paper is monotonously written with 0 and 1, who can analyze the meaning from the monotonous characters at a glance? Even cryptographers are prone to errors when reading binary code! So, binary machine code is not an ideal programming language! ”

(To be continued)