The software industry was in turmoil, disrupting the balance of the personal computer industry. Wang An Company finally introduced its first generation of personal computers.
In terms of hardware, Wang An Computer took a conservative approach, essentially comparable to Apple's second-generation machines. It could be argued that this was essentially a larger word processor, lacking innovation in design. However, being a major player in the industry, their computers found popularity in the market. This marked the beginning of a fierce competition in the personal computer market.
White Software's significant price cuts prompted other computer manufacturers to step up their advertising efforts. Many users who were initially cautious started to make their purchases. This renewed debate about the usefulness of microcomputers, leaving some veterans feeling embarrassed.
The argument about whether these machines were useful or not was a moot point. Ultimately, consumers would decide their value. The question was whether traditional giants should dominate the market or if new opportunities should be given to young innovators.
As the first major player to enter the personal computer market, Wang An Computer quickly realized the vast potential of this market. The unit prices of personal computers were considerably higher than those of word processors.
This promising start, however, led to some frustration from Qiao Dashen.
"William, we need to move faster. Our Lisa project can't afford any delays."
William White didn't seem too concerned, listening to God Qiao's slightly complaining tone.
"Old Joe, our beta version is ready. Your primary challenge lies in the production process. My software can't make a difference if there's no hardware to support it. You've seen that our competitors are formidable," William White said, deflecting blame.
"Alright, alright, but don't forget your commitment," Qiao Dashen replied.
"Rest assured, I'm trustworthy," William White assured him.
What God Qiao didn't yet realize was that his biggest competitor wasn't Wang An, but the young powerhouse Gabriel Gates and his Blue Giant Corporation. Wang An's exclusive system, like Apple's, couldn't compete with the innovative spirit of a group of young giants.
God Qiao didn't hold Bill Gates in high regard either. He had even assisted Bill's business and encouraged Microsoft to venture into office software.
Bill Gates, however, found himself in a difficult spot. Avoiding temptation wasn't easy. While he had reservations, William White was a tough adversary.
"Boss, Microsoft has received an order from the Big Blue. Although the information is highly classified, we still managed to uncover it."
Though William White was disappointed by this news, he didn't appear overly concerned. "Tom, let's investigate their plans. Microsoft can't create something out of thin air. They must have acquired something or obtained authorization."
"Understood, boss. I'll start the investigation immediately," Tom replied, relieved to have the boss's understanding.
"Is MSDOS about to make its debut? Why are you so eager for it? Haha!"
In a way, this was insider trading. Bill Gates was banking on MSDOS, but it was merely the result of buying someone else's product and making slight modifications before selling it.
Regardless of when IBMPC made its appearance, White Software was determined to launch compatible software. These were merely minor obstacles. Falling behind in the next wave was not an option; the survival of White Software depended on staying at the forefront.
God Qiao faced challenges, as did William White, not only in the software industry but also in the arcade sector.
Motorola's 68000 series had a derivative, the 65 series derived from the 68 series. Unfortunately, this venture did not belong to Motorola. It was similar to the AMD story—different visions led to different paths.
MOC was an intriguing company. The 6502 series of CPUs was virtually open-source, with almost any factory able to produce them at minimal cost. Now, trying to monopolize them was a far-fetched dream. Apple's first and second generations used this CPU, as did Atari's 2600.
In William White's view, the potential of the 6800 was undoubtedly greater. If breakthroughs in low power consumption could be achieved, the potential of this chip would be enormous.
"Boss, Mr. Philson is here."
"Very well, have him go to the meeting room. We have a meeting scheduled."
"Of course, boss."
Securing Motorola's authorization wasn't overly difficult, but acquiring the entire chip department was a tougher challenge. Nonetheless, William White was determined and decided to give it a try.
"Philson, what did Motorola say?"
"Boss, they've granted us production authorization. However, their production capacity and yield are limited, so they're seeking third-party manufacturers."
"It's a temporary solution. In the long run, we need a more secure source. Can you convince those individuals who moved to MOC to return?"
Philson considered for a moment and responded, "If the incentives are substantial, I believe they won't refuse."
"Excellent, proceed with this plan. Also, inform Footman Semiconductor that we're looking for a collaborator."
In a sense, William White was creating a cocoon around himself. While Motorola had no interest in the chip department, the legendary arcade was an entirely different matter. This department was evidently highly profitable.
His TV game console could no longer use the 6502. Although it was a good chip, it posed a low barrier to entry, and Atari had developed their products based on it, becoming a potential threat.
Using the 6800 directly wasn't suitable either, as it would result in considerable waste. The Red and White machine's frequency was less than 2 Hz, making a high-powered chip unnecessary.
The only issue was bandwidth. The Red and White machine had suffered from technical limitations, mainly due to inadequate bandwidth—a common drawback of 8-bit processors.
Since brilliant minds had managed to develop 8-bit processors based on the 68000, creating a 16-bit version shouldn't be difficult. If this project succeeded, it would outperform Intel's 8080.
Motorola was facing its own dilemmas. While the 68000 still had potential, the profit margin was shrinking. The chip's price had plummeted from $320 to just a few dollars. Given the current trend, it could drop to $50.
William White couldn't afford to be indecisive. His departments were already moving swiftly.
Motorola couldn't afford to remain passive either; they knew that 6800 wasn't in demand. It was essentially a chip for TV game consoles. It didn't take much for them to reach this conclusion. They were more interested in design authorization, intending to modify it based on the 68000. It wasn't difficult to deduce this, given the ongoing price drops of their CPUs. Was the lawsuit still entangled?
William White's approach was pragmatic, and he was willing to invest money. MOC, however, was a different story. Would they be open to collaboration?
"What? A collaboration involving the chip division?"
The cooperation model is acceptable, boss. They are open to collaboration rather than a complete sale.
"Well, this is negotiable. I insist on having a minimum of 30% of the shares. Additionally, the production base should be in the foot basin, so we can attract an investor from Footman Semiconductor."
"Understood, boss. We'll initiate negotiations right away."