IBM is going to check the design of Hitachi's mainframe and PC microcomputers.

The so-called inspection means that all Hitachi models must be reviewed by IBM before they can be approved for sale before they are put on the market.

Not to mention the discriminatory and insulting nature of such inspections, Hitachi did it itself.

However, such an inspection includes both software and hardware, from the chip architecture, motherboard design, component layout, to the underlying code of the product adaptation software, all of which need to be reviewed by IBM.

What does this mean? This means that all of Hitachi's core secrets will be open to IBM.

If that's the case, what kind of trade secrets are there, and the technology at the bottom of the box will be understood by the other party.

Now Fujitsu is saying here that IBM may do the same for it.

If it's Fujitsu's compatible machine, then Shirakawa Kaede can't care about it, and it has nothing to do with him.

But if it's a PC

"Mazuka-san, do you know what it will mean if IBM does the same to Fujitsu?"

The warning look on Shirakawa Kaede's face was unprecedentedly serious.

"Shirakawa-san, of course Fujitsu knows what that means, but it's just rumors at the moment.

And our top management is also trying their best to mediate this matter, so don't be nervous. ”

Mazuka doesn't know where this matter will go, after all, it has just happened, and many unknown consequences are still fermenting.

However, his comfort did not reassure Shirakawa Kaede in the slightest, this kind of thing must not be sloppy.

"If IBM also censors Fujitsu, it will mean that Fujitsu's previous investment in mainframes will be wiped out.

Don't forget that the number one competitor of your compatible machine is IBM, and the consequences of being informed of the technical details by the opponent must be known to Mazuka-san. ”

Mazuka's face was a little ugly, how could he not understand this.

But this time, there is a father of the United States behind IBM, and he is not afraid that Hitachi and Fujitsu will surrender by themselves, but he is afraid that the neon government will kneel first.

In that case, Fujitsu will not be able to do it even if it is tough, unless he does not plan to do this business again.

It seems that he is afraid that Mazuka Daoyi will not know the consequences, and Shirakawa Kaede carefully analyzes the impact of this for him.

"After IBM has seen Fujitsu's technology, the best outcome in the future is that Fujitsu will follow IBM in the compatible machine business to pick up some of the remaining market share.

Even so, there is a large annual fee for licensing various technologies.

As for the worst outcome," Shirakawa Kaede looked at Matsuka, "that is, in the future, Fujitsu will be in a slump in information technology and will completely fall into the dust." ”

Mazuka Daoyi stared at a pair of eyes, and his expression seemed to be unwilling.

"I don't care about the rest, but if IBM wants to do a review of Fujitsu PCs.

Tell him that SIC is an independent chip design company with its own technology patents.

Our chip architecture is focused on the PC field, and if IBM wants to talk to SIC about it, we'd love to hear from it! ”

What bullshit censorship, these foreign devils are used to being powerful. Do you really think that with the so-called espionage case, you can control everyone?

IBM scates Hitachi, and that's Hitachi's own problem. If you have the courage to do it, you have to be prepared to be beaten if you fail.

As for IBM's desire to take this opportunity to knock on other copycat manufacturers, it is understandable.

But if you stretch your hand too long and ask too much, it will be too arrogant.

If it dares to fight the idea of SIC, Shirakawa Kaede will not give him a good face.

This case is obviously a matter of mainframe business, and if it is insisted on being involved in personal computers, I believe it will not be convincing to the public.

However, Shirakawa Kaede believes that IBM will not make such an unreasonable request.

Because it itself is currently undergoing an anti-monopoly investigation in the United States, and the reason is still the fault of the mainframe.

This kind of server-type equipment is very closed from hardware to software.

This also means that everything about the mainframe depends on IBM.

From the data interface to the chip, software and other aspects are all IBM products, and other hardware manufacturers can't drink any soup.

However, it occupies more than 70% of the world's mainframe market share.

So in the United States, IBM was sued by a competitor with a complaint.

The grounds for the complaint are monopolies, and the investigation has been going on for a long time.

This is also the reason why in the past two years, neon manufacturers, Hitachi and Fujitsu, have gradually encroached on IBM's market, but the other party has not counterattacked on a large scale.

If you fight back, IBM is the only one left in the world, so isn't it a crime of monopoly?

But the recent Hitachi incident has given IBM a chance to breathe, and Shirakawa Kaede speculates that the other party will use this incident to get the Ministry of Justice of the United States to withdraw its antitrust investigation into IBM.

If IBM really has this kind of thinking, then it will not expand accountability for no reason, and it is its wisest choice to accept it when it sees it.

But Shirakawa Kaede was not at ease with the people of Fujitsu, for fear that they would kneel first as soon as their knees weakened.

"Mazuka-san, no matter what, please understand that Fujitsu has nothing to do with this commercial espionage case!"

Kaede Shirakawa looked fixedly, still immersed in the fantasy of being humiliated by IBM.

The latter reacted in an instant, "That's right, Fujitsu is not familiar with Hitachi and Mitsubishi, and it has nothing to do with this matter." ”

This is true, after all, according to the division of group learning objects, Fujitsu's target is not IBM.

As for Hitachi's riotous operation, Fujitsu did not participate in it at all, and no matter how the case is tried, it will not be involved in them.

At best, some of Fujitsu's software is based on IBM's design.

If the other party wants to be held responsible, the worst is infringement, and it is a big deal to lose a sum of money.

Mazuka Daoyi, who seemed to understand, slowly put his mind at ease, and he was also frightened when he saw this news in the morning.

Looking back now, it seems that things are not as serious as I thought.

"Shirakawa-san, please rest assured, Fuji informed what to do with this matter."

Mazuka's morality, whose thinking is getting clearer, has gradually returned to his former calmness.

Alas, in the future, this kind of copying of other people's things should be done less in the future.

Otherwise, if there is another espionage case, you may have to step on the sewing machine.

"Mazuka-san, haven't you thought about the future of the computer business after this incident?"

"Huh?" Matsuka Daoyi, who was still thinking about the impact of the Hitachi spy case, looked at Shirakawa Kaede with some confusion.

What do you mean? Will anything change in the future of the computer business?

Seeing that he didn't know why, Shirakawa Kaede reminded further.

"Does Mazuka-san think the mainframe business will continue to expand in the future?"

"Shirakawa-san means the future of mainframes, and it's not as optimistic as you think?"

Matsuka was surprised that Shirakawa Kaede would have this view, knowing that at this time, most business clubs were still using mainframes.

After all, the computing power of the mainframe is stronger and can meet more data processing needs.

And for clubs with a large number of people, the mainframe will be more cost-effective, and there is no problem for multiple people to share the same server.

But compared to personal computers, not to mention their performance, they are also very expensive.

If you want to meet the needs of one per person, then the cost is even higher than that of a mainframe.

So now the mainstream, especially in the office field, mainframe is still the absolute first choice.

Shirakawa doesn't know how much market the mainframe has right now, but he knows where the future holds.

"Mazuka-san, the mainframe business will continue to exist in the future.

But it will inevitably develop into a more professional field, and the personal computer must really become the mainstream of the office in the future. ”

Shirakawa Kaede's tone was sonorous and powerful, which made Mazuka Daoyi believe three points.

"What is Shirakawa-san's opinion, you might as well talk about it in detail."

"Convenient!" Shirakawa Kaede pointed out the biggest advantage of personal computers, "It is very difficult to move a behemoth like a mainframe, but personal computers do not have this problem at all.

Mazuka-san: Do you believe that in the near future, personal computers can be carried out like briefcases, and you can work anytime, anywhere? ”

"Nani?" Mazuka's eyes widened.

He looked at his mainframe computer, which was still a little bulky, and couldn't imagine it being the size of a briefcase.

In fact, it won't be long before the world's first laptop will be born in a few years.

Even at the end of this year, Compaq will launch its first true portable computer.

It's just that because its screen is so compact, IBM has always refused to admit that it was the first laptop.

"But that's a story for later, but Mazuka-san just needs to understand that the development of computers has always been moving towards miniaturization."

That's right, Mazuka nodded. Think about computers a few years ago, and then think about today's computers, and it's clear what the trend is.

"As for the computing power, there is no need to worry, with the advancement of technology, the future personal computer will also be able to meet the computing power requirements required in daily work."

How high can the requirements for processors be for real daily office, if the computers of later generations are only for the office field, then the performance will have been excessive.

"And far from it, how is the performance of your company's newly released FM-7 computer in May?"

Hearing this question, Mazuka Daoyi subconsciously smiled.

"Although internal statistics have not yet come out, the shipment of FM-7 in June is at least more than 200,000 units."

This figure is not only Mazuka Daoyi, but even Shirakawa Kaede nodded contentedly.

The number of shipments in a single month in June alone was higher than the sales of Fujitsu's previous generation models for an entire year.

In fact, in the first May, the sales of the FM-7 were mediocre, but about 50,000 units.

After all, it's a processor they've never heard of, and it's normal for consumers to have doubts.

Most of the people who bought computers these years are enthusiasts, and they are more knowledgeable.

However, some ordinary consumers didn't think much about it, and for the sake of cheap price, they started directly.

The experience of FM-7 also greatly exceeded their expectations, with a silky smooth operation feel and a friendly system interface that greatly facilitated people's difficulty in getting started.

As a result, the word of mouth of the FM-7 gradually spread, and more and more people bought it.

However, the real reason for the explosion of FM-7 sales is that the gaming performance of this computer is very strong.

Yes, the performance of FM-7 in games has been well received by a large number of young people.

Not to mention the "Pac-Man" game that comes with the computer, even other computer games developed on the MS-DOS system run very smoothly.

That's not it, SIC specially integrated the core display, how can there be no two brushes.

Nowadays, most of the consumers who buy computers are young people, and games are their favorite means of entertainment.

The smooth processor, friendly system, and powerful gaming performance have all made the FM-7's sales go all the way up.

At present, in addition to the initial 100,000 chips, Fujitsu has placed an additional order for 200,000 chips.

Shirakawa Kaede knew that this was by no means the end of FM-7, nor was it the end of SIC8089F.

In less than two months, SIC has brought more than 3 billion profits, and it is a big moneymaker.

When it comes to FM-7, Mazuka is also more convinced by Shirakawa Kaede's statement about the future development of computers.

So, will Fujitsu's computer business also make some adjustments in the future?

(End of chapter)