The Intel 8080 chip costs $60, which Li Zetian actually thinks is too expensive.
The Mos-6502 chip is only $25, and its performance is not much worse than the 8080. Of course, it was released a year later than the Intel 8080.
As October 1 is getting closer and closer, Li Zetian is so excited that he can hardly sleep. Every day I wonder if Apple-l will be popular, and how many orders are there
Soon, Li Zetian's worries disappeared.
On October 1st, "Popular Electronics" magazine was released in the United States. In the evening, all the magazines in this issue were sold out, causing a huge sensation in the United States!
400,000 magazines! It was sold out in one day, what a concept! ! !
This issue of "Popular Electronics" is the most popular since its inception!
Apple-l is much more powerful than the shock brought by the previous Altair8080!
Altair8800 is just a simple box, no display, no keyboard, no mouse, no high-level programming language, there are many switch indicators on the front of the box, the light on means "1", the light off means "0", the user can only turn on the light by turning on the light. Binary machine language programming is performed with the method of turning off the lights. There is no display, and the programming process cannot be seen. If something goes wrong, you have to start over. Just imagine, if tens of thousands of lines of code are programmed like this, it will be life-threatening! ! !
Apple-l and Altair8080 want to compare, is undoubtedly a world of difference!
Therefore, the shock brought by Apple-l was unimaginable to people at that time!
Schools, homebrew clubs, computer retailers, computer manufacturers, electronic accessory companies, and more, countless people are talking about the Apple-l model personal computer.
Harvard University.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen were beyond words when they saw the Apple-l on the cover of Popular Electronics.
"The age of the personal computer is here!!" Paul Allen said to Bill Gates.
"Yes!!!" Bill Gates nodded, however, unlike the previous life, this life's Apple-l already had a very good BASIC language as soon as it was released, which confused Bill Gates and Paul Allen I don't know what to do.
However, both of them are computer software programmers, so they are very interested in the BASIC language on the Apple-l.
"Paul, let's buy an Apple-l and come back and study it together. Unexpectedly, the Apple-l personal computer can still run the BASIC language. The developers of the BASIC language are so genius!!!" Proud Bill Gates said.
"Yeah, he must be a super programming genius! Wait, Bill, look here, the BASIC language copyright provider turns out to be Microsoft!!! Oh god, isn't this the company Chronos founded?!!" Paul Alan cried out in surprise!
Bill Gates hurriedly looked at the place where Paul Allen was pointing, and sure enough, there was a line of small writing on it: "Apple-l model personal computer BASIC language copyright provider: Microsoft Corporation, contact information: XXXXX"
After Bill Gates read it, he was silent for a while and said, "Chronos is really not an ordinary person!!!"
"Bill, Microsoft has just been established, and there must be a shortage of manpower. Do you think Chronos will contact us?" Paul Allen said excitedly.
"Maybe so..."
As soon as the voice fell, the phone rang suddenly.
Bill Gates went to answer the phone.
"Hello, who is it?" Bill Gates asked.
"Hi Bill, I'm Chronos! Have you seen the latest issue of Popular Electronics?"
"Just finished watching!"
"Bill, you must have seen that the BASIC language on the Apple-l personal computer was provided by Microsoft."
"Yes, I saw it!"
"Okay, then I'll be straightforward! Bill, drop out of school and start a business with me, I need you here!!!" Li Zetian said with a very sincere attitude.
"Chronos, I want to think about it!"
"Okay, after thinking about it, please answer me immediately, call this number or tell Yu Jingqiu!"
"Well!" Bill Gates responded.
"Okay, bye!"
At the end of the call, Bill Gates hung up the phone, and Paul Allen immediately came over and hurriedly asked, "What did Chronos say?"
"He wants to tell me to drop out of school and start a business with him!"
"Go, let's go together!!!" Paul Allen excitedly said, "Our three computer programming geniuses join forces, and the future will be very exciting!"
"Well, I'll think about it, Paul!" Bill Gates nodded.
…
…
Intel Corporation.
"Carlos Stephen, the cooperation with Apple this time is beautiful!" Gordon Moore, the founder of Intel Corporation and the proponent of Moore's Law, praised Carlos Stephen, "Popular Electronics Magazine sold in one day. Exhausted, almost the first in history, the Intel 8080 processor will definitely take this opportunity to break into the computer field in one fell swoop!!!”
Carlos Stephen smiled and said, "Thank you Mr. Moore for your compliment. The biggest beneficiary should be Apple. Presumably after today, Apple will soar into the sky!"
"Well, that's right!" Gordon Moore nodded, and then continued, "So, in the future, we will also win over Apple and strive to use our Intel processors for their processors!!!"
"Mr. Moore, don't worry, I know what to do!!!"
…
…
At this moment, MITS is a gloomy cloud.
The company's founder, Roberts, held the "Popular Electronics" magazine with trembling hands. The Altair8800 project was just completed at the end of September. Unexpectedly, however, a company has already taken the lead in launching a personal computer!
Launch it and launch it, but it's so perfect!
Altair8800 and Apple-l put together, completely eclipsed! ! !
At this moment, the ambitious Roberts has to admit that he has made a rubbish product!
"Mr. Roberts, don't be discouraged, our Altair8800 is no match for Apple-l in terms of function, performance and aesthetics, but our Altair has an advantage!" Brant Mo, an engineer in charge of project development Dunton said.
"What advantage?" Roberts asked weakly.
"Price advantage!!! Mr. Roberts, haven't you noticed? Apple-l sells for $2,000! At this price, I'm afraid many people can't afford it! And our Altair8800 can be sold for a few hundred dollars, winning at a low price I think users who can't afford the Apple-l may buy the Altair8800, after all our Altair8800 is a personal computer like the Apple-l!!!"
When Roberts heard this, his eyes lit up, "Yes, that's right, we'll take the low-cost route!"
"However, Mr. Roberts, we'd better get the BASIC language, so that more computer enthusiasts can buy our products! The BASIC language on the Apple-l is provided by a company called Microsoft, we can ask , ask them to authorize."
"Well, I'll do as you said, and the task of contacting Microsoft will be handed over to you," Roberts returned with confidence at this time, and said loudly, "I'm going to Intel now and order a batch of 8080 processors In the meantime, reach out to the media to promote our Altair8800.”
"Okay, Mr. Roberts!" Brant Moulton nodded.
Roberts never expected that when he came to Intel, he suffered a heavy blow!
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Roberts. The Intel 8080 microprocessor has insufficient production capacity and has been reserved by Apple. If your company wants it, you can only wait for next month!" Carlos Stephen shook his head and said.
next month
The daylilies will be cold next month!
PS: Update for you without lunch, hurry up and vote!