Chapter 649: Business Opportunities in Information Leakage Panic

...

In this personal computer market war, one of the most lethal weapons of IBM-pc compatible machine manufacturers is to provide a wealth of models below the price of 2000 US dollars for users to choose, and the performance is acceptable. ? ????? Hunting ????

This is also the most helpless part of IBM. The big stupid elephant is not good at this kind of "small profits but quick turnover" business model. The market failure of the cheap model IBM-pc/jr is the best proof, and the entire IBM- The profit margin of the pc series product line is still being dragged down by the more cost-effective IBM-pc compatible machines, and the pressure to lose money and make money is increasing.

It can be said that US$2000 is an iconic dividing line in the personal computer industry at this stage. If the product price is lower than this level, it belongs to the undisputed low-end positioning, which is mainly aimed at individual users rather than commercial needs, and thus has a very obvious impact on the cost, sales, and profit of manufacturers, which are mutually restrictive profit factors.

Take Apple as an example. The 128kB memory model of the main product mac is priced at 2,495 US dollars. After app1eIII, Lisa computer, and app1eII have gradually withdrawn from the market, this is also the cheapest model in Apple’s product line. .

Of course, IBM-pc compatible manufacturers who are good at low-price competition and can maintain a considerable profit margin also have products above this price. For example, Compaq's original product, the mobile IBM-pc compatible "compaqportab1e", is priced between $2,995 and $359o, depending on the specific configuration.

The newly emerging Fangyuan Computer Company is naturally not as perfect as the long-established iBm in its management mechanism, but at the same time it does not have the bureaucratic habits accumulated over the years, so it is more effective in dealing with the "wolves" of such low-price competition in the market tactics.

But having said that, Fangyuan Computer Company, as the maker and implementer of the Fangyuan computer standard, can't really sway its arms to make these "hard money". One reason is that it is not worth it, and the other reason is to give it to its followers. Make room for living.

therefore. Strictly speaking, excluding those orders from large enterprises and the government, Fangyuan Computer Company has not launched Fangyuan brand computers below US$2,000 in the retail market. There are several models below $3000, mainly targeting special individual user groups such as teachers and journalists, and one of the main attractions is reflected in the Zheru software package that comes with it.

In other words, the fight against the hysterical IBM-pc compatibles at this stage also depends on the Fangyuan PC compatibles. Gai has more flexible cost reduction measures based on the Fangyuan PC standard.

For example, in the face of a subdivided market, if you want to make a fuss about the scalability of Fangyuan PC architecture, you can use direct soldering instead of memory sticks to carry memory, and discard some expansion slots.

Small aspects reduce some electronic components and wiring that are useless for low-end products.

After some discussions, the results that everyone came up with were nothing more than these.

"This is not enough." Tang Huan said in a deep voice: "On the basis of your suggestion, add another condition. Companies such as Zheru and Adobe will cooperate with each other to come up with a discount plan for application software and play a combined punch. Even Zheru It can be on the operating system side. Freedos licensing fee for a period of time.”

This is where the Fangyuan personal computer standard is superior to other personal computer standards including IBM-pc in terms of hardware architecture. The software developer led by Zheru has created a platform for the Fangyuan personal computer platform. Powerful application ecosystem.

And the most powerful IBM-pc platform among competitors, the independent software developers that can get it are nothing more than Lotus Software and dBase.

As for more software developers like the research word processing software aproInternationa1, they wander between various hardware platforms, rushing to wherever there is profit, and refuse to be tied to a single hardware platform.

Among them, Microsoft belongs to a different category. If you don't consider providing the operating system ms-dos exclusively for IBM-pc, it also belongs to the category of independent software developers that try to take all popular hardware platforms.

Tang Huan's proposal lifted everyone's spirits. John Chambers further added: "The method of combining software and hardware. It should not be limited to the direction of attacking IBM-pc compatible machines. Other products also need this kind of firepower support. We must take advantage of the four generations of Fangyuan personal computers The launch of this will start a global war this year."

"Our computer products have repeatedly won heavy orders from the government, military, research institutions and large enterprises. One of the main reasons is that our products are not only cheaper than traditional mainframes and minicomputers, but also With a clear roadmap, both hardware and software maintenance and upgrades are very certain in the coming time.”

"In sharp contrast to this, IBM and the 'six doors' cannot immediately provide a new generation of products that can compete with the fourth generation of Fangyuan personal computers, and naturally they cannot make any strong promises in terms of future maintenance and upgrades. "

"We can't easily miss this opportunity." Having said that, John Chambers made a vicious gesture, "I'll kill him while he's sick!"

"You can discuss these specific promotion measures." Tang Huan smiled slightly. "Perhaps, I can help you find more interesting business opportunities."

John Chambers, who was very interested, hurriedly asked: "What business opportunity?"

"You'll find out after a while with me." Tang Huan laughed inscrutably, and then said: "When Jack Trammell was the CEO of Commodore earlier, he was very good at operating cheap computers. The set, abruptly defeated Texas Instruments, and even brought home video game consoles. Now he bought Atari's personal computer department and established a company called Trammell Computer to engage in direct sales. A little more support here, maybe we can surprise those arrogant IBM-pc compatibles."

"Okay, when I have a meeting with the Fangyuan PC compatible machine manufacturer, I will talk to Jack Trammell." John Chambers nodded in agreement.

...

After the meeting adjourned, Tang Huan asked his assistant to take a look at the documents about Intel's current situation. He felt that although his situation was a bit bad, it was not so far as to sink the boat.

Recently, Intel just announced that it will completely withdraw from the memory business that started and brought brilliant achievements, which really caused quite a stir.

For Intel itself, the hard-line Andy Grove promoted this change. Not stingy with cutting off an arm - a large number of employees have been laid off, and seven semiconductor factories that produce memory need to be disposed of.

Fortunately, the prospect of strong demand for microprocessors driven by the rapid development of personal computers gave Intel a shot in the arm.

Especially recently, the small group of "Six Doors" has been jumping up and down and making a lot of fun. They have made very effective free advertisements for Intel's new generation of microprocessors, Intel18o386.

If Intel can get computer manufacturers to agree to abandon the second supplier system. At the same time, the company's own Intel18o386 production capacity has increased, so the company still has a lot to do in the future.

Therefore, savvy investors are not in a hurry to abandon Intel, and Tang Huan doesn't have to work hard to buy the bottom to prop up the market.

Tang Huan thought for a while, and then contacted Formosa United Microelectronics and Singapore Chartered Semiconductor. Give them the news that Intel is dealing with the memory production line, and let them decide how to choose.

At this time, John Chambers came back and asked, "Don, where is the business opportunity you just mentioned, I am so curious that I can't wait."

"It seems that you are very important in the position of the CEO of a listed company. Once you hear the news related to the improvement of performance, you can't calm down." Tang Huan smiled and joked, and waved his hand. "Then go to the Philosophy and Confucianism Research Center to have a look, there are some very interesting results."

...

When Tang Huan and John Chambers arrived, all the arrangements were ready.

They first walked into the first room, which was furnished very simply, with a set of ordinary office equipment, and a clerk was typing.

Then, the two walked into the second room not far away, which was also ordinaryly furnished, and a little noticeable thing was that a TV was disassembled. Connected to a box device via several wires.

"Let's start the demonstration." Tang Huan waved his hand and ordered.

Confused, John Chambers stared curiously at the TV with many snowflakes on the screen for a while. Intermittent characters appeared on the image, and someone next to him was taking notes with a pen and paper.

The experiment was boring and inexplicable, but fortunately, it didn't take long, and it ended soon.

"Do you feel something different?" Tang Huan asked casually, calm and relaxed.

"The environment here is very ordinary." John Chambers shook his head rather bored, and did not forget to make a joke. "It's just that this TV set and the recorder next to it are a little weird, making them look like spies."

Tang Huan smiled noncommittally, just as the recorder handed over the recorded file, and another person brought a typed document that still smelled of ink from outside.

After comparing the contents of the two documents, Tang Huan handed them to John Chambers, "This is the result of the experiment."

"Is this typed document typed out by the typist in the first room?" John Chambers asked inexplicably while flipping through it.

"Yes, but the point is not here." Tang Huan explained leisurely: "To be precise, it is the content that once appeared on the screen of the cRT monitor of that computer."

John Chambers subconsciously groaned, and then he suddenly realized, his hand shook, and the document fell to the ground with a snap.

Quickly bent down to pick up the document, John Chambers quickly compared the contents of the two documents, the reporter went to the TV and looked it up, then turned back to Tang Huan with a face full of disbelief, "Is this TV With this box device, you can steal information from the computer screen in the next room."

"If you don't believe it, you can repeat the experiment again." Tang Huan shrugged, "It's just right, I want to confirm it too."

During this experiment, John Chambers didn't feel boring anymore, and he couldn't just sit there and wait patiently. Instead, he kept going back and forth between the two rooms, sweating profusely. There is nothing like the CEO of the world's most valuable company.

After testing the latest experimental results, John Chambers, who was shaking his head, exclaimed in disbelief, and then said with trepidation: "Doesn't this experimental result show that those who are interested can hide outside the office building and steal our business?" confidential."

"It is indeed possible." Tang Huan nodded calmly, "But not only us, but everyone, must face the risk of information leakage caused by the electromagnetic radiation of the cRT monitor screen."

At this point, Tang Huan stood up, walked back and forth a few steps, and then continued to explain slowly: "It must be pointed out that this way of information leakage is just one example; mechanical vibrations caused by typing on the keyboard, Intercepting information packets on the network can also achieve the same purpose; even through information such as power consumption and time difference, side-channel attacks can be launched on the cryptographic system.”

"This... This is terrible!" John Chambers put his hand on his forehead, "It makes me feel that even sitting in my office, I lack the minimum sense of security."

"No way, with the advancement of technology, these issues that were originally only considered by the military and intelligence agencies will also be touched in the field of public research." Tang Huan smiled lightly, and then stared at John jokingly. Chambers asked with a complexion: "John, don't you think that your mental state is very representative of those executives? There are unlimited business opportunities here. And since we have researched this result, we can naturally come up with corresponding solutions .”

John Chambers is at least one of the world's top CEOs, and he has already developed the tolerance and insight he should have.

He quickly regained his composure, and asked in a deep voice: "This research result reminds me of an anti-information theft security system called 'Tempest' that is vaguely involved in the process of dealing with customers such as the military and the government. specification."

"That's right, it's about the business opportunities it generates." Tang Huan snapped his fingers, "Simply speaking, the older the equipment, the more thoroughly it has been researched. So, although they still work well, we must The new products make room, and the drive for upgrading will naturally generate orders.”

John Chambers, who had cooperated for many years and had a tacit understanding, nodded knowingly, "Then when will this research result be announced to the public?"

"Of course it will be published in an authoritative academic journal immediately." Tang Huan replied slowly with a twinkle in his eyes.

...

Sure enough, as expected, when the results of the experiment of eavesdropping on the content by detecting the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the cRT display were presented to the public, the relevant sensitive areas suddenly fell into panic, and the United States, which responded first, The Security Bureau immediately sent representatives to Cupertino in Silicon Valley to take a closer look.

Various large research institutions, including Bell Labs, were also a little restless and called for consultation.

Even the British Broadcasting Corporation on the other side of the Atlantic sent a team to interview with an incomprehensible motivation. (To be continued.)