The fifth International Consumer Electronics Show opened grandly the day after Zhang Zhonghua arrived in Chicago. Electronic product manufacturers and sellers from all over the world gathered in Chicago, and the city became even more lively.
There are a large number of guides outside the CES exhibition hall, wearing sexy clothes to greet visitors at the door. In order to attract visitors' attention, these girls are very enthusiastic and wear very tight and skimpy clothes. The cold weather at the end of March cannot stop them at all.
of enthusiasm.
These girls are also called trade show girls or showgirls. They add a bit of color to the CES exhibition, which is a feast for the eyes of the engineers, science and engineering men, and IT men who come to the exhibition.
The exhibition hall of the CES exhibition is a super hall with an area of more than 50,000 square meters. More than 200 electronic product manufacturing companies each have an exhibition area, ranging from 100 square meters to 300 square meters.
The location of the exhibition area can also be divided into good and bad. The location on both sides of the entrance is of course the best location in the exhibition hall, and it is also the largest exhibition area. The further back, the worse. After all, not everyone is interested in going to the deepest part.
The booths of various international giant companies occupy the best positions, and the first-tier positions are also occupied by brands such as IBM, Xerox, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Philips, HP, RCA, and Canon.
And companies like Yuhuang Electric, DEC Computer, Wangan Company, Sanyo Electric, etc. can only occupy the second echelon. Other brands are also in some corners. In fact, Yuhuang Electric's occupation of the second echelon is a bit reluctant.
Therefore, the exhibition hall of Yuhuang Electric Appliances is only an area of 200 square meters, and the actual exhibition area is less than 50 square meters. Of course, the viewing area for tourists cannot be small.
Next to Yuhuang Electric is Wang An Company, which Zhang Zhonghua is familiar with. Wang An Company also launched the latest 1200 word processor this year, which is said to have shocked the world.
Word processors, which are some basic functions of text input, output, storage and editing, are mainly used in the field of office printing.
Today's word processors print line by line, which is still very troublesome to use. However, next year Wangan Computer Company will launch a more advanced 2200 type word processor that can edit multiple lines.
Since the current storage technology does not meet the requirements, computers are basically unable to edit documents in large quantities. Wang An's company has also reached its extreme in the field of word processing. In the field of word processors, even IBM can only tremble in front of Wang An.
However, Wang An's company was a successful word processor and a failed word processor. Wang An personally had an inextricable hatred with IBM. Coupled with Wang An's excessive stubbornness, Wang An was doomed to fail.
Of course, IBM is the world's dominant company in the computer field. In the early 1980s, IBM formulated global computer standards, and Apple Computer also had to use a large number of IBM's patents.
This is one of the reasons why Dr. Wang An is destined to only go down one path.
Zhang Zhonghua looked at Wang Lie in the Wang An Company's exhibition hall and shook his head helplessly, "I am a hero but an idiot, what a pity."
"Boss, it will officially open in about half an hour. For this exhibition, the five most outstanding showgirls we hired will go out to promote our products."
Taro Mishima said.
"Okay, let's take a rest first. Everyone will be busy after the exhibition officially starts."
Zhang Zhonghua said to everyone with a smile, while he walked towards the IBM exhibition hall.
It's not that Zhang Zhonghua doesn't care about the preparations for the exhibition, but he feels that if he is here, he will put more pressure on employees.
As for why I went to IBM's exhibition area, it was also to see what latest products IBM had on display.
At the beginning of this year, 58-year-old Thomas Watson Jr., who knew Zhang Zhonghua well, officially retired as president of IBM.
Learson, the third IBM president, took office, and IBM began to enter a new era, but this guy didn't last two years.
In 1946, when Thomas Watson Jr. took over as president from Thomas Watson Sr., IBM had revenue of $116 million and net profit of $19 million.
Until last year, after 25 years, IBM's revenue had increased to US$8.27 billion, and its net profit had reached US$1.07 billion.
During the twenty-five years that Thomas Watson Jr. took charge of IBM, IBM's sales revenue increased 60 times, and its net profit increased nearly 100 times.
In 1967, IBM's peak market value was 201.6 billion U.S. dollars. As the U.S. stock market plummeted, its current market value has also dropped to about 42 billion U.S. dollars. Of course, this does not mean anything. The stock price never represents the true value of a company.
No comparison means no harm. Last year, Carrefour Supermarket's revenue exceeded US$40 billion and its profit exceeded US$10 billion.
Needless to say, Carrefour, even Tesco, a supermarket in the United Kingdom, has revenue several times that of IBM. This era is the golden age of the retail industry, but no matter how profitable the retail industry is, it is not as profitable as the computer industry. There is no comparison at all.
"Hello, Mr. Zhang Zhonghua, I am Nick Simmonds. Welcome to the IBM exhibition hall."
IBM exhibition manager Nick Simonds said politely.
"Hello, Mr. Nick Simmonds, how is your company's floppy disk doing now?"
Zhang Zhonghua asked curiously.
"Mr. Zhang Zhonghua, this is the latest floppy disk launched by IBM. Its diameter is only 8 inches, and the storage capacity has reached 80kb."
Nick Simmonds proudly introduced the latest floppy disk developed by IBM. IBM has made a major breakthrough in the field of floppy disk technology, which is currently the most convenient storage medium in the world.
Zhang Zhonghua looked helplessly at the floppy disk in his hand. 80kb may sound small, but it is already one of the most cutting-edge technologies at present. IBM has indeed made a major breakthrough in the field of floppy disk technology.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! A few years ago, IBM launched the world's first floppy disk with a diameter of 32 inches. The floppy disk was taller than a 3-year-old child. That thing was simply a murder weapon.
"IBM is indeed very advanced in the field of technology. I think this is just the beginning. It won't be too long before smaller floppy disks are available."
Zhang Zhonghua said while holding the floppy disk.
Zhang Zhonghua doesn't know much about other fields, but he knows a lot about computers. He studies computers.
Allen Shugart, the inventor of the floppy disk, would later leave IBM and found Seagate. In 1976, the 5.25-inch floppy disk came out.
In 1979, Sony launched a 3.5-inch double-sided floppy disk with a storage capacity of 875KB. By 1983, it had reached 1MB.
In 1973, IBM invented a 30MB hard drive as big as a three-dimensional cabinet. The rental price was US$7.81 per megabyte per day, and the daily rental was US$240. As for the price, Zhang Zhonghua did not know.
Zhang Zhonghua then learned about IBM's latest industrial computer system/370, which is a little better than the previous generation 360 computer. Computer technology is now the latest technology led by IBM, and the speed of technological development cannot be expected to be too high.
Zhang Zhonghua took a brief look at all the exhibits of IBM. They were basically various types of computers and other office equipment, and their technical content was 1001 times higher than that of Yuhuang Electric Appliances.
"Dear exhibitors, the 5th International Consumer Electronics Show will officially open in five minutes. Please be prepared, we have to start the show right away..."
After Zhang Zhonghua heard the broadcast, Godaya Warwick said goodbye and left the IBM booth, which was finally about to open.
Five minutes passed quickly. As the exhibition began, countless tourists poured into the exhibition hall. The entire exhibition hall instantly became lively. Zhang Zhonghua walked towards the back exhibition hall in a hurry.
The morning of the entire exhibition is actually not that important. The main thing is that buyers send purchasing personnel to understand the situation first, and the actual orders are usually placed in the afternoon.
And the people rushing in now are basically not electronic enthusiasts, but reporters from the media who want to see the most advanced electronic products in the world.
The electronics exhibition provides a sales platform for global electronics companies. In fact, it is a B2B platform. Such a small booth is not a grocery store, and exhibitors generally do not sell to individuals.
Exhibitors only bring some samples, and mass production will begin only when the market is good. If they are not popular at the exhibition, they can only be produced in small quantities for trial release, or they may simply be buried in the garbage as failed products.
Zhang Zhonghua arrived at the Philips showroom first. Philips displayed many products, including almost all kinds of home appliances.
"Mr. Zhang Zhonghua, this is the latest 8-track tape launched by Philips. It is the most advanced tape. This is the latest blank recordable tape we launched, which can be recorded in the tape recorder."
Zhang Zhonghua looked at the tape in front of him and raised his eyebrows. Philips had really developed the tape to the extreme.
Will the next step be to start developing CDs?
"Wow, it's a really good product. Philips has once again made a major breakthrough in the field of tape technology. My company, Jade Emperor Records, will purchase some to try."
Zhang Zhonghua praised.
Of course, the tapes purchased by Yuhuang Records are not for recording songs. Records are still the mainstream at present, and whether they use records or tapes, they are basically still the same customers. There are not many more people, and the singers make less money.
Zhang Zhonghua walked around Philips and came to the Sony showroom next door. In addition to TVs of various sizes, there were also many other products.
"Zhang Zhonghua, welcome to the Sony showroom. This is the latest U-Matic VCR video recorder launched by Sony..."
A Japanese woman proudly spoke in Japanese. The deputy also called Zhang Zhonghua by his first name, which was very impolite.
Zhang Zhonghua glanced at this person and ignored her, but carefully observed the U-Matic video recorder in front of him. It was much larger than the desktop computer host, but much smaller than the Philips N1500 home tape recorder that Zhang Zhonghua just bought.
.
What's so cool about Little Girl's movie? Although Carrefour supermarket can't remove Sony products due to the contract, it's still okay to get the worst position. Sony can easily lose tens of millions or hundreds of millions of dollars.
no problem.
Akio Morita came over after hearing the sound and gave his daughter Ryoko Morita a fierce look. Akio Morita said apologetically: "Mr. Zhang Zhonghua, I'm very sorry. Ryoko is not very sensible. Please forgive me."
"It doesn't matter, Morita-kun, this U-Matic video recorder is indeed an excellent product. I must buy one and keep it in my collection!"
Zhang Zhonghua said with praise.
Akio Morita is the founder of Sony and is known as the sage of management in Japan. In 1960, in order to develop the American market, Akio Morita moved his family to America and listed Sony on America.
Zhang Zhonghua still admires Akio Morita very much, and this Ryoko is also his wife, Ryoko Morita.
If Zhang Zhonghua doesn't share her common sense, the most he can do is cut off Sony's future Walkman, PSP handheld and other products. Or in the future, he can do something about Sony's stock from the stock market. If there is a stock market crash, others will do it if I don't do it. It's not as good as that.
Let me earn money and use it for charity, right?
Thinking of this picture of Zhonghua, one thing comes to mind. In the future, Sony seems to acquire Columbia Pictures in Hollywood, and Jade Emperor Pictures will acquire Columbia Pictures in advance.
"The function calculator produced by Yuhuang Electric is really a great product..."
Akio Morita praised.
Zhang Zhonghua and Akio Morita chatted for a few minutes before leaving Sony's exhibition hall, and then walked to Panasonic's exhibition hall.
As soon as he arrived at Panasonic's exhibition area, Zhang Zhonghua called out to him, "How come this old man like Konosuke Matsushita is personally attending the CES exhibition?"
"Matsushita-kun, it's an honor to see you here."
Zhang Zhonghua said politely to Konosuke Matsushita.
The cooperative relationship between Yuhuang Electric and Panasonic is still very good, and the two companies have also conducted many patent exchanges.
"Hello, Mr. Zhang Zhonghua, I just went to your place to have a look. The cash register and headphones are really good. Yuhuang Electric is going to be very popular."
Matsushita Konosuke praised.
"This is all the credit of the company's scientific researchers..."
After Zhang Zhonghua and Matsushita Konosuke chatted for a few minutes, they continued to visit each other, and then came to BSH Home Appliances Company.
Zhang Zhonghua asked the staff and found out that BSH Home Appliances Company was a joint venture between Siemens and Robert Bosch in 1967. Well, Siemens will also acquire Bosch in the future.
Siemens was founded in 1847 and now has a history of 124 years. Siemens entered the telecommunications field more than a hundred years ago and is also super powerful in the semiconductor field.
In the 1950s, Siemens began to produce computers, semiconductor equipment, washing machines, pacemakers, etc., and now it has entered many fields.
After leaving BSH Home Appliances Company, Zhang Zhonghua continued shopping, visiting HP and Texas Instruments, and then came to Motorola.
Motorola was founded in 1928; in 1946, Motorola began to be involved in the mobile phone industry and realized in-car calls for the first time; in 1956, Motorola launched the first pager; in 1964, Motorola transmitted images of Mars back to the earth, and later also realized calls between the moon and the earth.
;Last year, Motorola launched its first MC6800 microprocessor.
Now Motorola is very strong in the global semiconductor chip field. The mobile phone market in the next thirty years will basically be dominated by Motorola and Nokia. However, when smartphones rise, the two companies can only rely on collecting patent fees.
Nokia was founded in 1865. Nokia was not a paper company. It entered the telecommunications field in 1902 and began manufacturing mobile phones in 1960.
Now Nokia is also a giant company in Finland. Its industry involves papermaking, chemicals, rubber, cables, pharmaceuticals, natural gas, oil, military and other fields. It is also a powerful group.
