Reborn Tech Maniac

Chapter 473 Graphical User Interface Chaos (continued)
You know, Gates has been in a bad mood recently.

His good friend and co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen, was diagnosed with cancer - Hodgkin's disease, and had to quit the management to concentrate on treatment.

The originally happy and hard-working trio has now become a two-person duo where I and Steve Ballmer look at each other, which can be described as a sudden increase in work pressure.

In addition, Microsoft's spreadsheet software MultiPlan has been completely disabled by Lotus 1-2-3 on the IBM-PC platform, and it is hopeless.

If Microsoft does not want to withdraw from this product field, it can only start from scratch and develop a spreadsheet software with a more advanced technical architecture to replace the current MultiPlan to re-compete with Lotus 1-2-3.

Gates never expected that when he was struggling, VisiCorp suddenly took out a VisiOn and competed with him on the operating system site of the IBM-PC platform.

Logically speaking, since VisiCorp's spreadsheet software VisiCalc and Microsoft's MultiPlan are in similar situations, both of which have been trampled underfoot by Lotus 1-2-3, the two companies should be suffering from the same disease and sympathizing with each other.

But why don't you think about how to deal with Lotus Software, but stabbed me in the back?It's really a persimmon that is soft to pinch.

Seeing this scene, Gates was furious.

After the development department scolded the various project teams, Gates returned to the office and began to ponder how to deal with VisiCorp's VisiOn making waves in the operating system field.

Since being invited by Jobs to visit the research and development results of the MAC project team, although Gates appeared calm on the surface, he has long realized in his heart that the graphical user interface is the future trend of the operating system.

With the convenience that Microsoft has secretly reached an agreement with Jobs to develop office software for Apple's MAC, Gates has a great opportunity to deeply understand the MAC graphical user interface and start to transform it into Microsoft's own technical achievements.

In this regard, Gates did not have any psychological burden. Because Jobs himself did not hide the fact that he stole from Xerox PARC, he copied all the articles in the world.

Although Microsoft does not have to explore hard from 0 to 1 and has MAC as a reference, the complexity of the graphical user interface still exceeds Gates' expectations, and so far there has been little commendable progress.

There is a very unique feature of software development that is extremely dependent on intelligence, that is, simply accumulating manpower does not necessarily make substantial progress in the work. If you can get a good project manager or programmer to take the lead, it can be called Better than thousands of troops.

Knowing this well, Gates does not intend to blindly expand the size of the Windows project team, not to mention that the actual conditions do not allow it, and Microsoft's software development tasks are heavy.

First of all, IBM is developing a next-generation personal computer with Intel's next-generation microprocessor Intel 80286—IBM-PC/AT. Microsoft will cooperate with the progress of Big Blue's project and come up with a corresponding new version of MS-DOS.

At the same time, the work of secretly developing office software for Jobs' MAC is also urgent.You know, the reason why Microsoft picked up this omission is entirely because Jobs personally wanted to exclude Tang Huan's philosophers, which can be called a rare opportunity.

In addition, Microsoft's starting product, BASIC, did not dare to relax.After all, whether it is IBM-PC, or Fangyuan personal computer, and other personal computers whose market position is becoming more and more niche, they all maintain a strong demand for Microsoft BASIC, which belongs to the evergreen tree of the company's profit source.

Thinking of this, Gates tragically discovered that his Microsoft could not launch Windows within half a year, let alone directly compete with VisiCorp's VisiOn.

Gates scratched his head and scratched his head for a long time, but still had no choice but to pick up the phone and ask his subordinates if Steve Ballmer was in the company.As he wished, the other party just came back from Silicon Valley at this time.

……

Steve Ballmer, who was sitting opposite Gates, scratched his hair subconsciously, then looked at the palm of his hand and smiled wryly. Why is he obviously losing his hair now?What a torture!If it goes on like this, it is estimated that it will not be far from being bald.

"Steve, do you have a good way to deal with VisiOn?" Gates asked impatiently.

"Bill, I think we should first solve the current mentality problem." Steve Ballmer said in a deep voice, "After Paul was hospitalized, you became very anxious, which will affect your decision when facing problems."

Gates thought about it seriously, nodded his head and said: "You are right, I really need to adjust my anxious mentality."

Steve Ballmer smiled with relief, "Actually, Microsoft's situation has not become that bad. After all, MultiPlan is only a new profit growth point and its status is limited. Even if it stumbles, it will not let us It hurts. More importantly, Compaq Computer has just bought an MS-DOS license from us, which is definitely a good start."

"Do you think that other IBM-PC compatible opportunities will follow in the footsteps of Compaq computers, and MS-DOS will become a necessity for compatible machine manufacturers like BASIC?" After listening to Steve Ballmer's analysis, Guy Ci's eyes lit up.

Without waiting for the other party to answer, Gates continued: "If this is the case, then it is even more necessary for us to attack VisiCorp's VisiOn, lest it grab our operating system site."

"In my opinion, VisiOn is actually just a semi-finished product. I don't know what's wrong with VisiCorp, so I'll show it off early." Steve Ballmer snorted coldly.

Gates began to sway his body on the chair while thinking habitually, and said after a while: "It seems that it is really necessary to calm down. Now that I think about it, the machine used by VisiCorp to demonstrate VisiOn is more like a machine. A DEC-VAX minicomputer terminal, not an IBM-PC. There are many mysteries in it!"

Steve Ballmer swayed his body in different directions, while slowly putting forward his suggestion, "We can also put a smoke bomb on the same bluff to make those users who intend to choose VisiOn hesitate, or simply Wait until we roll out Windows."

Gates slapped the table suddenly, "Then we must target VisiCorp in terms of launch time and sales price, so that its plan to seize the market will fail."

"We can also rely on external forces." Steve Ballmer unconsciously grabbed a handful of hair, and then added with a slight wry smile, "Jobs is so conceited that even Apple's own Lisa computer with a graphical user interface has no VisiOn will not let it go if it is suppressed with scruples, and Zheru may not be able to sit still this time."

"Don has always had his own plans, and I'm afraid he won't talk to VisiCorp, a clown. Besides, he's not in Silicon Valley right now." Gates shook his head.

"It is precisely because Don is not in Silicon Valley that Louis Gerstner, who is in charge of philosophy and Confucianism, will be even more furious. You know, VisiCorp did not just launch VisiOn, but on this basis, it packaged word processing, spreadsheets, spell checking, etc. Waiting for a whole set of software, especially for the same kind of suite for philosophers, each lowers the price accordingly.”

Steve Ballmer smiled sarcastically, "VisiCorp is trying to please IBM and has suddenly rushed to the forefront of the battle between IBM-PC and Fangyuan PC. Look at what happened to Lotus 1-2-3 What kind of counterattack will tell you where the bottom line of Zheru's tolerance is."

"This kind of strategy of leveraging strength is really wonderful." Gates showed a mischievous smile on his face, and then picked up the phone, "I will remind Jobs and Louis Gerstner first, and then give "Bit" The magazine puts a smoke bomb - Microsoft will launch Windows 250 for only $1.0 at COMDEX this fall."

……

Louis Gerstner has excellent qualifications as an executive in McKinsey Consulting Company and American Express Company. He has the richest corporate management experience among Tang Huan's subordinates, so he is highly valued. He is not only in charge of Zheru's hugely profitable ERP department, but also In charge of the disciplinary inspection of all companies.

After Tang Huan left Silicon Valley, Louis Gerstner became even busier.

One work content stems from Tang Huan's intention to launch the ERP department, an organization that focuses more on professional fields than technology itself, to form an application software service provider named PeopleSoft, and at the same time acquire an auditing company to enhance its professionalism. field strength.

There is another thing that makes Louis Gerstner feel tricky. Seeq, which is located in Silicon Valley and is mainly responsible for providing EEPROM, has some intolerable problems.

Louis Gerstner was thinking about how to deal with it properly, and Gates made a "kind reminder" call.He hurriedly asked someone to send VisiCorp relevant information, but after only a few glances, he couldn't help the cold light flashing in his eyes.

Visi On costs $495 and requires an additional $250 mouse.

Zheru has bought the mouse patent from Stanford University, but VisiCorp, the developer of VisiOn, did not come to greet Zheru.

More critically, the delivery time of VisiOn will have to wait until the end of this year, and VisiCorp has launched the Visi suite by taking advantage of the much-anticipated attention.

Among them, the spreadsheet software VisiCalc is priced at $395, the graphics software VisiGraph is priced at $250, and the word processing software VisiWord is priced at $375.

In addition, the Visi suite also includes email address processing software VisiFile, spell checking VisiSpell and other components.

Seeing that the Visi suite was in a tit-for-tat confrontation with the Zheru suite in terms of functions and prices, Louis Gerstner's first reaction was that this was a market operation plan deliberately to help IBM-PC expand its territory, and it must be like a 1-2- 3 so ready.

Louis Gerstner thought for a moment, and then invited Charles Simeone, who was in charge of technology, to ask directly if he knew about VisiCorp's VisiOn.

As a result, Charles Simonyi smiled disdainfully, "This VisiOn has been so hyped recently, how could I not have heard of it. However, this software was developed on a UNIX workstation, and the machine used for demonstration was not like an IBM-PC. .So, if it’s not a hoax, it’s probably a gimmick and a farce.”

Louis Gerstner asked seriously, "Then what do you think, just from the demonstration effect of VisiOn, how does it compare with the graphical user interface system we are developing?"

(End of this chapter)