Chapter 466 Conflict Between Gates and Ballmer

"Jason, tonight at the Staples Center, Steve Ballmer invited us to watch the regular season game between the Clippers and the Nets tonight."

Coming out of New Era Pictures, Yang Cheng received a call from Conrad Koch who had just arrived in Los Angeles.

Instead of going to the car with the phone in hand, he went to a roadside cafe to buy a cup of iced coffee, "What a coincidence?"

"Well~ just to introduce you guys, and I'll talk to him about trading Paul by the way." Konrad Koch should still be at the airport, and the sound of the plane taking off came over clearly.

"I see, do you think it's funny? I heard that Ballmer is very stubborn." Yang Cheng took a sip of coffee and hesitated.

Conrad Koch thought for a while, but he didn't dare to give an affirmative answer, "It's hard to say, but we have to talk about it anyway, but don't speak well of Bill in front of him tonight, they had trouble last year. Turns out, the two are incompatible. Of course, if you are not afraid of the news being spread and scold Bill, I think Ballmer must regard you as a confidant. Let alone Paul, the entire Clippers will follow you pick."

Although this sentence is more of a joke, the feasibility cannot be denied.

Yang Cheng has also heard the related gossip. Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, the golden partner, parted ways last year. It was very popular. How could he not know.

It is rumored that Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer have accumulated personal conflicts for more than ten years due to the issue of power transfer, and last year, because of Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia and Ballmer's resignation as CEO, the fuse was completely ignited , the two gunpowder barrels exploded in an instant, and the two have reached the point where they don't speak to each other, and they don't even give a basic nod and look at each other when they meet, which shows how deep the rift between the two is.

Yang Cheng drank iced coffee comfortably, blowing the warm spring breeze. The spring breeze did not disturb the peach blossoms, but it aroused his heart of gossip, "Tell me, why are these two people fighting so fiercely? I also heard There are many rumors, but none of them are very reliable."

Konrad Koch is actually quite familiar with both of them, and relatively speaking, he is closer to Steve Ballmer. I understand, and narrated in a tone of reminiscence, "Actually, the conflict between Gates and Ballmer has a long history. As early as the beginning of the 21st century, that is, around 2000, Ballmer succeeded Gates, Served as CEO of Microsoft.

At that time, Ballmer felt that Gates was still intervening in Microsoft's management affairs, and he didn't seem to have full control of Microsoft. This was the root of the contradiction. "

He took a breath and continued, "However, due to professional ethics, both of them are also focused on work, and the relationship in private is not bad. This relationship has been maintained until 2008, when Gates announced that he would leave Microsoft completely. Really became the head of Microsoft.

You also know that both Gates and Ballmer have strong personalities. When the hidden dangers were not exposed before, the two were tolerant and compromised with each other. Everything was in the interests of the company. Until this time, the controversial The decision to acquire Nokia's mobile phone business, because it involves major issues of Microsoft's future strategy, the two hold their own opinions, and neither of them is willing to back down. They both think their decision is right, so they completely broke up. "

Yang Cheng was puzzled, "Hasn't Microsoft been looking for a strategy to land terminals? It stands to reason that the acquisition of Nokia would be of great help to Microsoft. Bill can't see this clearly, right?"

Konrad Koch did not answer directly, "Listen to me. Faced with the passive situation of Microsoft entering the mobile Internet era, Ballmer made the decision to transform Microsoft. He announced the 'Devices and Services' strategy and decided to Following Apple's software and hardware integration route, corresponding to Apple's mobile phone business, Ballmer advocated the acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone business.

And this decision,

However, there was a huge storm within Microsoft's board of directors, and it encountered very fierce opposition. Among the opponents was Bill Gates, who had cooperated with Ball in tacit agreement for more than ten years. Gates' move made Ballmer feel until he was betrayed. "

Konrad Koch opened the conversation, got in the car and continued, "Ballmer is naturally very dissatisfied with the board's disapproval of the acquisition of Nokia, but in the end, one of the parties will inevitably compromise. Some kind of compromise was reached, and the board of directors supported the acquisition transaction. As a price, Ballmer agreed to resign as CEO in the second year. Go ahead and reform Microsoft.

The conflict between Gates and Ballmer was not limited to this time. At that time, Ballmer was very dissatisfied with the Vista operating system development project led by Gates. He believed that Microsoft put too much energy on the operating system, which hindered mobile phones and other businesses.

I talked to Ballmer about this topic. He said that his worst job was from 2001 to 2004. Microsoft paid the price for the bad job. Gates stubbornly put the best team in the company and too many resources. On Longhorn, rather than phones and browsers, he once thought it was a harbinger of Microsoft's self-defeating. "

Yang Cheng sighed unceasingly. It turned out that the two giants of Microsoft had such a bumpy experience. After thinking about it for a while, he said with emotion, "Now Nadella is the CEO of Microsoft. He has completely given up on Ballmer's imitation of Apple. The strategy of 'devices and services' was developed in turn by a strategy of 'efficiency and platforms, mobile first cloud first'.

Nadella believes that Microsoft's software and Internet services should be provided to all hardware and all operating systems in the form of 'cloud services', rather than Apple's self-enclosed software and hardware integration. To be honest, at least from what you said As things stand, I'm on Steve Ballmer's side. "

Konrad Koch chuckled, "You can save this and tell Ballmer tonight. I think he will be very happy. You know, since he quit Microsoft, he has been criticized like a dog by countless people. Qu is terrified, he bought the Clippers in a fit of anger last year, it seems that he is also trying to prove his talent to the world, he is not old yet, and he can still shine in another field."

Yang Cheng shrugged, "Anyway, he hasn't fully sold Microsoft's stock yet. From this point of view, he is still very realistic. He is still enjoying the dividends that Microsoft brought him, and he cannot completely give up. Based on this matter, in terms of the pattern alone, he is not even a star behind Bill."

"Haha, let me remind you Jason, if you still want to trade Chris Paul, don't mention Bill Gates in front of Ballmer tonight. You are right. He is not only realistic, but also stingy. He is completely narrow-minded, and if he doesn’t go according to his wishes, he will be remembered for a lifetime.” Konrad Koch has no awareness of speaking ill of his friends behind his back, and he is so cruel when he teases him.

Yang Cheng gulped down the iced coffee, threw it into the trash can on the side of the street, opened Rafa's butterfly door, bent down and got into the car, and after starting the car, he joked, "I'm not stupid, if you don't Don't worry, I'll learn how to flatter my men, and I'm sure Ballmer will be willing to send Chris Paul to us."

"That's not necessary. That's fine. I'll see you at the Staples Center tonight. I won't invite you to dinner. Ballmer has already arranged it."

"OK, see you tonight. By the way, should we go to the box or the front row?" Yang Cheng stepped on the gas pedal lightly, holding the steering wheel with one hand, and asked into the phone.

"It should be the front row, right? Ballmer is not a low-key master, but I will inform you after I confirm with him."

"Okay, that's it, let's not talk about it, I'm driving."

. . .

There was still more than half a day before the evening ball game started, and Yang Cheng had nothing to do, so he just went home and lay down by the pool and looked at the sky.

The sky in Los Angeles is still so pure and blue, the wind is light and the clouds are light, and the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant. This is a kind of tranquility that is difficult to experience in New York. When people are in New York, it seems that there is an impetuous factor in the air. After people breathe, I also move unconsciously, always thinking that I want to make more money, I want to drive a sports car, I want to date the most beautiful girls, and I rarely have the opportunity to calm down and appreciate life.

Looking at the skyline in the distance, Yang Cheng yawned comfortably, and his eyelids gradually became heavy. Unfortunately, just as he was about to fall asleep, the sound of footsteps behind him disrupted his drowsiness.

"White, what's the matter?" Yang Cheng was already familiar with White's steady and rhythmic footsteps, so he asked aloud before he arrived.

"The gardener is going to weed, and I'm afraid it will disturb you to rest." White said standing aside respectfully.

"Oh, don't mind me, just busy with their work, bring me a glass of juice to cool it down." Yang Cheng waved his hand, he is not a harsh landlord.

"Yes~"

It didn't take long for the buzzing of the lawn mower to roar. Fortunately, the place of work was in the vestibule, and when it reached Yang Cheng, the sound disappeared a lot, within the tolerance range.

White brought the juice and continued to supervise the servants' work. In the huge manor, the work was complicated and monotonous. Every day went round and round, but no one dared to be sloppy. While enjoying the perfect quality of life, Yang Cheng was all these hardworking servants. It was a joint effort under the supervision of White, a near-perfectionist, to make it happen.

Drowsiness came and went quickly. After taking a sip of the freshly squeezed juice, the cool and sweet taste reverberated in his mouth. Now he lost his drowsiness completely. He took out his mobile phone and prepared to call Xu Lingyue. How are things going.

"Hello~" Xu Lingyue's voice sounded flat, but there was an inexplicable embarrassment.

Yang Cheng scratched her head, not knowing how to start the topic, so she could only reply bluntly, "Hey~ it's me"

"I know~" Xu Lingyue said calmly.

"Eh~" This stumped Yang Cheng, did you know it was me? and then?