“I made my first fortune by making video games. I didn’t keep making games. Instead, I made Internet services, and now I’m making consumer electronics.
There are many things you can do to start a business. Cooperating with me is just one of your options. It does not mean that you can only do this. "
Zhou Xin feels very strongly about this. The real world cannot go exactly as you expect. At that time, he thought he could help ZTE get the ban, but it didn't work at all.
When Zhou Xin and Cao Yongluo were discussing future development, Cherry Company only got the matrix product belatedly.
"You guys have also experienced it for a day. Let's talk about your feelings."
Everyone knows Cherry is a German company, but it was actually born in the basement of an Amerikan store in Highland Park, Illinois.
Later he was moved to Germany.
Therefore, Cherry has branches in Germany and Amerikan.
This time, after receiving the news, Günter Mermann flew from Germany to America, Wisconsin, which is also Cherry's office in America.
Günter is a veteran of Cherry. He started working for Cherry more than 20 years ago and is an executive responsible for R&D and product design.
“According to our research, matrix adopts a completely different structure from ours, and all their parts are detachable and replaceable.
From the shell, keycaps, shaft body, to PCB board, positioning plate, etc., they are all removable.
The matrix keyboard also has several layers of pads. According to our research on these pads and metal sets of different materials, combined with their specially developed shafts, these combinations are the key to making the matrix produce pleasant percussion sounds.
At the same time, their inner liner has no steel structure or screws for support. The keyboard completely relies on the precision of the upper and lower covers for engagement. The combination of silicone pads and cotton pads makes the keyboard extremely soft and elastic.
This is also one of the important reasons why users feel addicted. "
After the North American engineer finished speaking, Günter tapped the space bar on the matrix keyboard a few times with his fingers.
The reason why Cherry attaches so much importance is that they also want to go high-end, but the approach they take is to take small steps and gradually increase the price.
Until 20 years later, the most expensive cherry keyboard was less than 2,000 RMB. In U.S. dollars, the Cherry Keyboard has increased from $150 to $300.
And Matrix got it right in one step. The first keyboard was priced at US$500 after its launch, and was praised unanimously on online forums.
It is not that there is no opposition. The opposition focuses on dissatisfaction with pricing and personal criticism of Zhou Xin.
And when someone on the Internet forum comes out and says that the matrix keyboard itself is not good, buyers will come out to defend matrix.
This is the kind of thing that only I can scold, and none of you can.
Cherry is firstly curious about how Matrix has gained user recognition. Secondly, she is wary that Matrix will completely seize the high-end market.
Günter did not answer. This was the first time he saw the matrix keyboard. After seeing the real thing, he realized that the matrix was a greater threat to Cherry than imagined.
He continued to touch other keys with his hands. After tapping the big keys, he placed his hands on the keyboard and made a series of tapping sounds.
"Excellent product, worthy of Newman. I finally understand the despair of European Internet companies when facing Quora.
But we are okay, we are far from despair.
You go on to say, do they have anything unique about technology?
If we copy the design of the matrix keyboard and put it into mass production and put it on the market, can you do it? "
The engineer said: "Absolutely, the structure of the matrix keyboard is too clear and concise, which is actually a disadvantage for us.
Because the design is too simple, any private studio in the future can design a keyboard based on this structure.
At the same time, matrix's shafts and keycaps will also be sold separately.
At present, we have found that some small start-up companies in the electronics field have taken orders on online forums, and then sell products similar to Matrix under their own names. "
"Are they replicating so fast?"
"No, they make a sample first, and then if you want it, you pay half the deposit, and then pay the remaining half after the goods are made.
They buy matrix switches and keycaps, and then copy other matrix designs themselves. "
If it was Zhou Xin, he must have realized that after he launched Matrix, customization appeared in the world ten years early.
Günter asked: "Are there any shortcomings of matrix?"
The engineer replied: "Compared with our keyboard, the response time of matrix is not that fast.
But this difference is only a few milliseconds, and the user cannot sense it at all. "
Why after the advent of customized keyboards in the future, e-sports players will still buy keyboards such as Cherry and Logitech because their latency is shorter, which means that the computer can receive signals faster after pressing the keys.
After all, customization does not guarantee this.
But now e-sports is even more niche, and this difference cannot be a reason for users to choose Cherry.
"We also want to launch our own matrix mode keyboard as soon as possible.
Otherwise we simply cannot compete with other manufacturers. "
The door to the customized keyboard was pushed open by Zhou Xin. Zhou Xin himself did not expect that the garage companies in Silicon Valley would react so quickly.
They can make other accessories and buy matrix switches and keycaps.
Even if you make the mold yourself, as long as you can get 20 people to buy it, the cost will be cheaper than the official Matrix product price of US$499.
However, Zhou Xin knew that he would not pursue these studios for infringing on his keyboard structure patent, because what Matrix needs is reputation.
After the launch of matrix keyboard, time came to the end of November in a blink of an eye.
Before Zhou Xin returned to China, he took Lin Benjian and Guan Jianying to Japan. The main purpose of his trip to Japan was to talk with Nikon and Canon about the transfer of photolithography machine technology.
They hope to obtain lithography machine technology that is one generation behind.
It is unrealistic to rely entirely on self-research. First, buy the technology of the backward generation, and then catch up with Nikon and Canon based on the technology of the backward generation.
"Jun Zhou, in principle we are willing to sell you the lithography machine technology that is one generation behind, but we need to conduct a further round of negotiations on the specific amount."
Although the purpose of Zhou Xin and his party is photolithography machine technology, and photolithography machines are only part of Nikon's business line, Nikon President Toshio Moriguchi still received Zhou Xin and others in person.
After chatting with Nikon and Canon respectively, Nikon and Canon successively responded that they were willing to sell technology.
Here is technology that is a generation behind.
Zhou Xin could tell that Nikon and Canon were having a hard time through their willingness to sell technology.
The ASML behind it is chasing it too hard. If it were Neon during the heyday of semiconductors in the 1980s, Nikon and Canon would definitely not be willing to sell lithography machine technology, even if it is a generation behind lithography machine technology.
"Ben Jian, you are responsible for negotiating with them, and you are responsible for the amount. I am not sure how much the photolithography machine technology that is behind the most advanced process is worth.
After I return to China, you only need to report the results to me, and I will tell you if it is okay. "
The next chapter will be about returning to China. I just have the weekend to think about how to write the plot of returning to China to show off. There will be a series of climax plots that will definitely make everyone enjoy watching it!
(End of chapter)
