Reborn Tech Maniac

Chapter 614 Can IBM Keep Its Star

……

After confirming the test results, the U.S. National Security Agency and other NATO members immediately revised the advanced specifications of "Tempest" anti-eavesdropping information. Under the strong request of Bell Labs, major banks and other institutions that are also sensitive to information leakage, A special version for civilian use was also launched.

You should know that this kind of specification is not a document that can be consulted at will, and even some of the detailed rules and regulations are kept secret.After all, this kind of fighting method, where the Tao is one foot high and the devil is one foot high, is often a highly targeted attack.If you show specific measures, others may prescribe the right medicine to crack them.

The reason why the US National Security Agency was able to provide a civilian version this time was not only due to the pressure of the spread of panic in the business community, but also because with the advancement of technology, some problems have inevitably entered the public domain.

Advanced product technology does not mean that it is safe and worry-free.In the original time and space, many heads of state only used mobile phones to a limited extent. This is an example.

Another piece of evidence is the political election process. Why use the original manual counting of votes when the electronic information collection equipment has matured?The reason is that this kind of information leakage may lead to the occurrence of fraud.

Therefore, mysterious electronic eavesdropping is not just a legend. It may happen to the public without anyone noticing it. The US National Security Agency must face up to this demand.

As for the instigator who frightened everyone to the ground, not only did he not provoke any complaints, but he also received a lot of praise, thanking him for his early attention to this field and avoiding possible major information security incidents.

This recognition first manifested itself when the U.S. Department of Defense placed a large order worth US$2.42 million to Fangyuan Computer and Zheru Software, including 90000 computers.

However, this money is not so easy to earn, because the other party requires subsequent maintenance and upgrades to last for more than ten years.The accounting departments of Fangyuan and Zheru worked day and night to calculate and evaluate the profits and the accompanying risks.

Fortunately, no matter what, there is one more business opportunity to open the way for brand new 32-bit microcomputer products, and it is still a high-end field that is not bad for money.

Fangyuan Computer, whose product circuit design can meet the electromagnetic radiation standards required by the "Storm" specification, is unique in this regard, and has attracted large customers who have such needs to come to visit.

……

As the big boss, Tang Huan is mainly responsible for pointing out the way forward for his subordinates and finding various jobs to keep them busy.This time was no exception. After the start of the fanfare, he didn't see such general-level visitors, but took time to deal with private affairs.

My uncle Han Anyuan visited the United States as the head of the Funan government, that is, as the prime minister. Tang Huan, a behind-the-scenes supporter, had to do a good job of supporting work in accordance with his itinerary.

It can be said that as long as this trip goes well and further support including aid is implemented, Tang Huan can almost start his experiment using the country as a canvas.

Even though Funan is small and poor, the contradictions are big and numerous. Han Anyuan started this essential trip to the United States only after making the minimum deployment to stabilize the situation, so the time has been delayed until now.

In this way, Tang Huan, who hadn't stayed on the west coast for many days, flew to the east coast again.

Since he didn't want to show off, he still stayed behind the scenes, and he wasn't as busy as Han Anyuan, who was always on the move.

……

In his spare time, Gerry Roche, a well-known and well-known corporate headhunter, came to report. Don Estridge of IBM finally agreed to have a private talk with Tang Huan.

Hearing this news, Tang Huan frowned, and asked curiously, "I've heard about Don Estridge's loyalty to IBM. How do you persuade the other party, risking exposure and criticism?" Risk, interview with me?”

"Of course it's because of the pressure of attention caused by sincere poaching and possible job-hopping." Gerry Roche smiled complacently, "Moreover, after rumors that Fangyuan Computer Company pursued Don After the news, other computer companies also seemed to understand the mystery, and then threw an olive branch to Don Estridge with great fanfare. It is not an exaggeration to describe it as sitting on the crater. After all, IBM's trust cannot be unlimited, Big Blue can't give Don Estridge more, and suspicion is inevitable in the end."

Tang Huan pondered: "You mean, Don Estridge may want to find a way out of the current troubles from me?"

"Maybe." Gerry Roche nodded, "In Don Estridge's view, the poaching campaign launched by Fangyuan Computer Company has more political meaning than talent demand, and he doesn't want to be the It is a symbol and bargaining chip in the struggle between giant companies."

"Of course..." Gerry Roche smiled playfully, and added: "One cannot completely get rid of vanity. He must be very proud and happy to be valued so highly by Tang and Fangyuan Computer Company."

"Okay, then bring him to see me right away." Tang Huan made a gesture, "I want to take a closer look in person, what kind of mental journey this 'father of IBM-PC' is now, and how IBM can keep itself Is it a star?"

……

Being favored by the world's top companies, no matter who it is, it is inevitable to be complacent. The difference is nothing more than this kind of emotion is on the surface or hidden in the heart. Don? Estridge belongs to the latter without exception, but he also Annoyed.

Although IBM is self-contained, similar to an independent kingdom, and has a certain degree of closure, but the news that "Fangyuan Computer Company poached the founder of the personal computer department of rival IBM with high salaries" really has too much room for hype. The media will talk about it every few days, and gossip is flying all over the sky, and it is also widely circulated within IBM.

It is not difficult to imagine that Don Estridge, vice president of IBM, will attract colored eyes no matter where he goes.Even his good friend, Bill Lovo, who succeeded him and is currently in charge of the personal computer business, asked privately, "What are you going to do now?"

"What plans can I have?" Don Estridge asked gloomily, and then smiled bitterly: "Actually, my idea is very simple and simple. I just want to stay at IBM until I retire."

"Even if you like to work and live in a simple way, I'm afraid the external situation will not allow you to do so. After all, not everyone is so simple, and there are quite a few people who like to complicate simple things." Bill Lovo said with emotion: "You can't feel the strangeness in the eyes of many people around you?"

"Actually, I'm like a mirror in my heart. The most important thing about Fangyuan Computer Company is my status as the former leader of IBM-PC. Once I leave the company, it will seriously damage IBM's morale." Don Estridge emphasized his tone Said: "I don't want to be this betrayer, but facing those suspicious eyes, I feel very uncomfortable."

"There's no such thing as a traitor. IBM can't always be a place where people can fight for their lives." Bill Lovo added pointedly: "Take the personal computer business, if it hasn't improved. , that mass cuts are not out of the question.”

"Why, isn't the development of the PS/2 project going well?" Although he was transferred from the personal computer department, Don Estridge, who has devoted a lot of effort here, still cares deeply about its every move.

"Do you know the biggest difference between the development of PS/2 and the original development of IBM-PC?" Bill Lovo asked without answering.

Don Estridge hardly thought about it, and opened his mouth to answer: "At that time, our department was independent from IBM's existing system. While enjoying the support of the headquarter's resources, we didn't have to be restrained in doing things. It can often achieve an efficiency of 120%. Now, the IBM-PC department has returned to the management system of the head office. Bureaucracy."

"That's it." Bill Lovo sighed, "When the IBM-PC was developed, there were only a dozen members of the project team, and the time was just over a year; now the personal computer department has more than 2 employees. , can you still replicate the IBM-PC R&D miracle and launch the PS/[-] in just over a year?"

After a moment of silence, Don Estridge tentatively asked, "How far has the PS/2 project progressed?"

"It's a foregone conclusion that it won't be launched this year." Bill Lovo shrugged, "You know, compared to the previous IBM-PC to IBM-PC/XT, and then to IBM-PC/AT, there are After the foundation, it can be upgraded step by step, which can save some effort; but PS/2 needs to build a new architecture, the workload can be imagined. And there are four generations of Fangyuan PCs as competitors for reference, PS The design of the /2 had to be changed several times.”

"This is only internally. Externally, we and Microsoft jointly developed a new operating system OS/2. The progress is also fast and slow, and the programmers on both sides are very at odds and often quarrel."

"It can be said that Microsoft, which is preparing to go public, we can no longer handle it; after the first spreadsheet software Multiplan was eliminated by Lotus 1-2-3, a similar product of Lotus Software, we still did not give up. This year, Apple's MAC, Developed Excel, the first spreadsheet software on the platform."

"In addition, Gates is very restless in terms of operating systems. While providing MS-DOS for the entire IBM-PC standard platform, he is promoting another operating system, Xenix; while co-developing OS/2 with us, he is actively preparing to release it within this year. Windows 1.0 for GUI systems."

Speaking of this, Bill Lovo shook his head sarcastically, "Half-hearted, it's nothing more than that, and it's hard for Microsoft to spend such a deep effort."

On the matter of Microsoft, Don Estridge was not ashamed to participate in the comments. Gein, a software company that also sucked blood from IBM, now has the capital to bite the bullet, except for John, the former CEO of IBM. · Opel's relationship with others.It also had a lot to do with his almost conniving carelessness when he was in office.

Therefore, Don Esterlich continued to analyze the progress of the PS/2 project: "If PS/2 comes out next year, it will give the fourth generation of Fangyuan personal computers too much time to seize the market."

"It's not just personal computers. We seem to have missed a certain opportunity in the development of microcomputers. Unfortunately, there is no chance to make up for it." Bill Lovo shook his head a little desolately, and patted Don Estridge again before leaving. "Don't be too strict with yourself, the saint is just a legend. This time I went to Los Angeles for vacation, just to stay away from right and wrong, and let go of my heart and relax."

……

Don Estridge heard a lot of information from Bill Lovo's sincere concern from his friends, and he couldn't fully digest it for a while, but he decided to listen to one thing first, that is, to eliminate the public opinion around him as soon as possible Gossip, and the most effective way is to deal directly with Tang Huan, the supreme ruler of the opposing camp.

After expressing this wish to Gerry Roche, who harassed him once every three days, Don Estridge waited for the other party's reply while preparing to go to Los Angeles.

He and his wife, Mary Ann Ellier, have three children, but they were the only couple on the trip, along with IBM interns and some family members of staff.

After Don Estridge got the ticket, Gerry Roche wrote back, "Don just has time, so come."

Then go for it!Don Esterlich, who had no choice, asked his wife for her opinion, "How about you go to Los Angeles first, and I'll be there later after we finish talking about the matter."

Mary Ann Ellier understood her husband's predicament this year very well, so she said, "I'd better accompany you. It's not bad to go around New York."

In this way, the couple set off from Florida to meet Tang Huan.The richest man was very generous, seeing that it was too late, he was not in a hurry to start the talks, but arranged for them to stay in a five-star hotel first.

Women are always tempted to gossip. While talking curiously about the legendary Tang Huan, Mary Ann Elir turned on the TV and the cable news network was broadcasting the news.

Delta Air Lines Flight 191 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Los Angeles crashed at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport at around 18:5 local time, killing approximately 134 people. , 29 people were lucky to survive.”

"The initial estimate was that the cause of the accident was weather, but a Learjet landed successfully at the airport a minute before the tragedy."

"My God, isn't this the plane we plan to take to Los Angeles!" Mary Ann Ellier yelled, and Don Estridge, who was looking at the information, snapped in fright. Dropped the pen in his hand on the ground.

(End of this chapter)