Chapter 243 Gates Betting 2 Heads
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"Yes, I remember it trying to implement a GUI as well, but the design was aimed at sub-$1000 PCs, and the resources available to the group were very limited. Last time I was in Markkula's office, I saw Russ Jin came to ask for help, but Markkula generously allocated another sum of money to him." Tang Huan patiently explained that he hoped that Apple would launch a more reliable next-generation product as soon as possible, so that there would be another IBM competitor.
And most importantly, in the original time and space, this hardware platform will play a pivotal role in checking and balancing the business relationships between companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Lotus.
Obviously, Jobs knew it well, and he didn't continue the conversation. Instead, he pointed to the second-generation Fangyuan computer and asked, "Is this the same model as the one I just saw?"
"Of course. You don't want to judge a gentleman with a small heart. This is the most high-end model, and the cpu used is from Motorola." Tang Huan made a sarcasm to Jobs, and waved his hand generously, "I'll give you a chance, Feel free to ask questions, I don’t mind imparting some experience.”
As far as the understanding of IT technology is concerned, Jobs can't compare with Gates, so Tang Huan's generosity is just a gesture. He understands that the reason why the other party insists on dismantling the main box of the second-generation Fangyuan computer is just to confirm. is a personal computer. You Tang Huan can develop it. So can I, Jobs.
When you see the cpu and cpu socket, memory stick and memory slot, south bridge chip, north bridge chip, clock chip, isa bus expansion slot, graphics card, sound card and other components with distinctive features. Jobs frowned slightly, and sneered, "It looks so complicated, no wonder it's a high-end product."
Tang Huan didn't think it was disobedient, and pointed out and introduced the functions of each module, "I hope that when you design the next generation of personal computers, you will use the same isa bus. In this way, our two products can be installed on the expansion slot Universal."
"My product will not have these redundant expansion slots." Jobs shook his head and made a positive statement.
Well, it was still as narrow as in the original time and space, Tang Huan was almost annoyed.
However, Jobs is good at one thing. He can express a certain degree of respect to people with real skills. Looking at the second-generation Fangyuan computer in front of him, although he didn't say any compliments. But he didn't express even a single word of disdain.
After looking at the hardware inside the case, Jobs turned his attention back to the operating interface on the monitor.
The disk operating system used by Fangyuan computers.
Instead of naming the company name and then adding this abbreviation like the common practice in the industry, it is called, which is Tang Huan's tribute to the original open source community.
The reason why Jobs was attracted to the second-generation Fangyuan computer was because Tang Huan asked Simone to design a menu system on the Internet. Although it was far from the ideal GUI in his mind, it was still enough to bring convenience to ordinary users. Even better with the optional mouse.
Of course, the menu system that Jobs saw did not achieve the effect in the original time and space, but was similar to the IDE environment of the editor.
In fact, this mechanism is reflected in the first-generation Fangyuan computer and the three major commercial software. Although the unassembled second-generation Fangyuan computer performs brilliantly, it can be called practical rather than decorative.
"Could it be that you have no plan to develop a graphical user interface?" Jobs stared at Tang Huan and expressed his biggest question.
"Not in the short term, the difficulty is too high." Tang Huan shrugged frankly, "It can even be said that this task is a bit too great."
"I like to do great things." Jobs muttered, got up and left, but he did not forget his promise, "You can rest assured that I will not stare at this thing again, and it is nothing more than that."
"That's good." Tang Huan smiled lightly, sent Jobs away, watched him drive away in the newly bought luxury car, thinking in his heart that sooner or later Ruskin would tragically hand over the control of the project, And after Jobs got his wish to master this project, he will definitely recruit a lot of people, so Apple will have another change in personnel.
...
Zheru finally regained his composure, and Tang Huan began to finally evaluate the computer system specially developed for Stephen Hawking, a second-generation Fangyuan computer that provides special input methods, electronically synthesized voice, English thesaurus, and a customized version of word processing software.
Hawking is a scientist, so this version not only provides support for various mathematical symbols, but also adds a rather powerful typesetting function suitable for the fields of mathematics and physics, which is somewhat similar to the original time and space. The open source software tex written by Donald Erwin Knuth.
Because Hawking's mobility is limited, it is particularly important to test for various bugs. For this reason, this customized version was installed on the second-generation Fangyuan computer and sent to nearby Stanford University, Berkeley University of California, etc., for free for professors. Use, and look for potential problems.
Unexpectedly, there were not many defects in the report, but a lot of fragmented orders were received one after another, which is a bit exaggerated.
Originally, according to the preliminary plan, the second-generation Fangyuan computer will only be fully rolled out in Asia in the few months before the end of the year. In the United States, it will mainly be integrated with the database ebase and various information management systems, and sold to commercial users as a whole.
As a result, customers are now asking for it through the retail channel. You can't ignore the door-to-door business, so let's take it. Anyway, the customers in these universities are of high quality. Even if something goes wrong. Also easy to service and fix.
but. Among these orders from the academic world, Tang Huan actually discovered the name of that Knuth, which not only made him a little dumbfounded, but he borrowed the tex that the other party was still writing at this time, and he should actually pay some copyright fees. all at once.
Knuth has a more famous Chinese name - Gao Dena, which he took before his visit to China in 1977. The suggestion came from the help of Chu Feng, the wife of Chinese computer scientist Yao Qizhi.
Gardner can be regarded as a pioneer of modern computer science and the winner of the Turing Award in 1974. His book "The Art of Computer Programming" is one of the most respected reference books in the field of computer science. "Quantum Mechanics", Richard Feynman's "Quantum Electrodynamics" and other books are listed as the 12 most important physical science professional books in the 20th century.
The famous NSA is the National Security Agency of the United States. It likes to hire mathematics doctors and computer experts to collect and analyze foreign and domestic communication data. Gardner rejected its job invitation in 1968 and was hired as Stanford University. A professor in the Department of Computer Science, he devoted himself to learning.
The reason why Knuth wrote tex is because the current very rough typesetting level has affected the printing quality of his masterpiece "The Art of Computer Programming". So with a typical hacker thinking mode, he finally decided to write a typesetting software by himself.
Knuth thinks it will only take half a year. In the second half of 1978, tex will be completed. But obviously he was too optimistic. There is still a long distance between scientists and commercial software providers, so he was attracted by the Hawking version of the second-generation Fangyuan computer.
Tang Huan has always wanted to set up a consultant team composed of famous computer experts, but he can take this opportunity to operate it.
At this time, Chambers came back from Las Vegas, and he reported to Tang Huan about the preparations for the dex exhibition.
With the foundation of the first session last year, not only the organizer, but also the future Sands gambling king Adelson has experience, Zheru is also familiar with it, and has already come up with a complete plan, Tang Huan does not need to go Worry about that, so I handed over the task of the consultant team to the other party.
"We can use this opportunity to further infiltrate the second-generation Fangyuan computer into the field of education." Chambers said brightly.
"Currently, the second-generation Fangyuan computer is slightly more expensive and has a waste of performance. It is estimated that only limited occasions such as administrative departments and libraries will be interested. However, the first-generation Fangyuan computer and Apple computer are suitable for students to learn computer principles." Tang Huan Shaking his head slightly, "You can try it."
"I met Gates on the road, and he will come to visit later." Chambers nodded, and changed the subject.
"He should be busy with the ibm chess project, how come he has time to come to Silicon Valley?" Tang Huan frowned, a little puzzled.
"Microsoft is also developing for Atari PCs, and he also wants to take over the version on our second-generation Fangyuan computer platform." Chambers smiled, "Atari is also getting bigger and bigger now, except for video games. Machines, personal computers are not spared."
"It is burning money. Like a laboratory, it has hatched a lot of projects in a swarm. If you grab your nose and eyebrows, you will suffer soon." Tang Huan didn't bother to care about Atari's life and death.
Moreover, recently, the other party has been very unrestrained in the authorization of the Atari 2600 platform. As long as the money is invested, video games can be developed. There are more and more inferior works.
Although he knew that the original time and space were reborn in such a chaotic situation, Tang Huan was still dissatisfied with it. It was not kind to be so crazy before he died.
Tang Huan turned his attention to Microsoft again, and said in a deep voice, "Gates is planning to bet on IBM and us at the same time."
In Tang Huan's view, no matter how simple and easy to use, it also belongs to the category of programming languages. With the three major commercial software, this product is not indispensable. At least this is the case on the Fangyuan computer.
is talking. Gates arrived as promised. And the intention is just as Chambers just said.
"Is Microsoft busy enough? Haven't you already accepted the IBM project?" Tang Huan asked casually.
"It's completely busy. Microsoft has been providing different types of platforms for various manufacturers, and it has long been familiar with it." Gates replied with a smile.
Everyone is in the same industry, and if there is a disturbance, it is inevitable to get news, especially Microsoft has become a standard program, and it is rumored that IBM is researching a new generation of personal computers. It is normal to pick Microsoft as a partner. Just like Tang Huan entered the hardware field and developed a personal computer, which is already known to everyone.
However, the information is also divided into levels and levels. The secrets about the operating system must have been covered up, and Gates had a flash of pride in his mind.
"Microsoft already got the prototype from IBM?" Tang Huan continued to ask unmoved.
"We can use the simulator to complete most of the tasks, and we don't need a prototype yet." Facing Tang Huan's gaze, Gates felt a little guilty when he spoke.
"That's it, it's a little troublesome. We didn't prepare a simulator, after all. We can solve the software problem entirely by ourselves." Tang Huan spread his hands regretfully.
"That's fine, just use the prototype directly. It's more convenient when debugging the program." Gates changed his tone, and also deliberately added, "I heard that the work computer provided by Zheru to dex is a newly developed computer. The products that have been released are classified as samples, which are somewhat inaccurate, and should belong to mature products, but the sales channels have not yet been fully rolled out."
"Bill, don't try to block me with words." Tang Huan couldn't help being a little amused, "Answer me first, has Microsoft got the prototype from IBM? I just want to know how the other party's project is progressing. If you don’t give me this little face, then how can you do business.”
Gates scratched his head, weighed the pros and cons, and felt that even if he confides secretly, it will not have any impact on a behemoth like IBM, and it is more important to sell Tang Huan as a favor.
Thinking of this, Gates made the most sincere expression on his face, "Since you insist on getting to the bottom of it, I will take the legal risk and tell you something."
"This is a good friend. I don't want to take advantage of a big company like IBM." Tang Huan got up and poured two glasses of red wine while bewitching, put them on the tea table, and had a drink with Gates.
"The prototype will not be sent to Microsoft headquarters in Seattle until the beginning of next month, and at present we and ibm still need to discuss some cooperation details. Recently, Ballmer has been staying on the east coast to deal with these matters."
Gates carefully selected some disclosures, but never mentioned the operating system. This is a product with a platform significance that he has always dreamed of. The less people know about it, the better.
Tang Huan was very satisfied with inferring the progress of the chess plan from Gates' few words, and corroborating it with information obtained from other sources.
As for the operating system, Tang Huan didn't ask. After ibm- and Microsoft enter the market together, they can use the platform open agreement reached with Gates when they went to Seattle to see Silicon Valley One to make a fuss.
"Bill, it's interesting. We have a happy cooperation. The project is easy to talk about." Tang Huan and Gates touched the crystal cups, "But there is one thing, I can provide you with the prototype debugging program after Microsoft gets the prototype of IBM. Can you Understand my purpose."
"Understood, even if IBM knows the technical secrets of Fangyuan Computer, it will not be easy to modify the products that have been basically designed." Gates nodded understandingly.
"That's what it means." Tang Huan clapped his hands and smiled, "Come on, I'll take you to have a closer look at the new generation of personal computers."
When Gates saw the intel8086 and two models of the second-generation Fangyuan computer, he couldn't help being stunned. He only knew that Tang Huan had dabbled in the field of personal computers, but he didn't expect that the other party's stall was so large, and Gates was far away. He understands technology far better than Jobs, and he also understands what it means.
"How is it possible that you developed two kinds of personal computers at the same time." Gates murmured.
"It's just that the CPUs used are different, and the software platforms are compatible. It can't be said that they are two kinds of personal computers." Tang Huan pretended to be modest.
"That's even more difficult." Gates became more and more distraught, and Tang Huan's technological research and development strength gave Gates a sense of powerlessness and despair.
"I have a lot of people under my command." Tang Huan gave a sloppy look.
"You don't need to be humble. When IBM invested billions of dollars in the development of system/360 in the 1960s, it has already shown through its own experience that the more people there are, the faster the project development will be." Gates shook his head with a wry smile. , "There is a problem with the level of management. It is unbelievable that your company has expanded so rapidly, but still maintains such amazing efficiency."
The more Gates talked, the more dejected he became. He had the old idea that Zheru would grow up too fast and suffer from indigestion, and eventually fell into civil strife like that, and finally ended in sadness. Thinking about it now, the idea is ridiculous.
Seeing that Gates seemed to be hit, Tang Huan quickly patted him on the shoulder, and comforted him: "You should read the technical specifications of the second-generation Fangyuan computer, which is the most practical."
Gates nodded, but soon he fell into deeper despair. Although he didn't get the IBM prototype, Gates had seen and understood the specifications attached to it, which was obviously inferior to the personal computer in front of him. Looking at it this way Come on, isn't the operating system that I have given high hopes to die before it is born?
No, you must be prepared with both hands, and you cannot hang yourself on the big tree of IBM. (The novel "Rebirth Technology Madman" will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, and there will also be a 100% lucky draw gift for everyone! Open WeChat now, click the "+" sign on the top right "Add friend", search public Number "qdread" and pay attention, hurry up!) (to be continued...)
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