Zhang Yi, who is familiar with Apple's future development process, originally just wanted to integrate the micro-hardware software mall into Apple's ecological chain.

You know, the Windows system, the Apple system, and the Linux system will be divided into three parts of the world in the future.

90% of personal desktop systems are monopolized by Microsoft's Windows.

The Linux system, on the other hand, is mostly used on the server side.

Only the Apple system, although the market share is less than 10%, but, due to the high price, the software optimization is better, the system is relatively safer, and it is unique in the field of professional graphics workstations.

In addition, Apple's management of applications is very strict. Therefore, on the Apple system, there are relatively few cracked software, and users have developed the habit of buying paid software.

This creates a unique phenomenon: Apple, which has the fewest users, has the highest percentage of paid software purchases.

The Windows system, which has the largest number of users, has the largest number of pirated software.

Until 2018, before Zhang Yi's rebirth, almost 100% of the application software installed on the computers of users who used Windows systems was pirated software.

On the one hand, this is because Windows has the largest number of users, and users have a relatively large demand for software.

On the other hand, it is also the reason why Microsoft deliberately indulges piracy in order to promote the Windows system.

As for Jobs' ideal, users no longer need software from other companies with the software provided by Apple's system, which is pure fantasy.

The needs of users are strange, and it is simply unrealistic to rely on Apple itself to make a family bucket and solve the needs of users in one stop.

This can also see the arrogance of Jobs.

And Zhang Yi took advantage of this, so he got off the donkey, made a gambling agreement, dug a big pit for Jobs, and buried the apple while pit him.

The day after Zhang Yi threw out the VAM agreement, Steve Jobs convened Apple's management for a meeting to discuss the agreement.

Most of the management has no opinion on the agreement, or rather, they don't dare to have an opinion at all, and at Apple, Steve Jobs is God, and he said that the sun looks like the moon, so everyone will just say that the sun is the moon.

Just in his opinion, everything is as usual, and the so-called meeting is just a process.

But something he didn't expect happened, and his favored heir, Tim Cook, stood up and expressed a different opinion.

He strongly opposes that such a VAM agreement will shackle Apple's development and tie a shackle to Apple's future.

Cook himself is not a technician, strictly speaking, a professional manager. Although, he doesn't think that the application software store will be a big hit in the future. But with the sensitivity and instinct of a professional manager, this agreement is a bit like a trap, but he can't say what the problem is.

Jobs didn't want to hear opposition at meetings, even for Cook, whom he admired the most.

"Cook, your opinion can be reserved, but the most important thing for us now is to quickly promote the development of the Mac OS operating system, and Zhang Yi, in terms of software level, it is estimated that Apple cannot find a comparable one. ”

"You may not know that the nearly 50 bugs he proposed yesterday can save Apple at least two years of time, and use these two years to grab Microsoft's windows and how much market share we have!"

The management attending the meeting also deeply believed that in the eyes of Apple's management, Microsoft is the biggest enemy, and defeating Microsoft and embarrassing Bill is the thing that Apple cares about the most.

In fact, Jobs was also a little apprehensive, he didn't know why Zhang Yi would limit this gambling agreement to 15 years. However, any agreement must have a time limit. Otherwise, come up with a 30-year deadline, and who knows what will happen then.

"Taking 10,000 steps back, even if we lose the VAM agreement, it proves from the side that Apple Computer is successful. If you think about that $15 billion in sales, you can imagine that a lot of software was sold. Let users make more use of our Apple computers. On the other hand, it also shows that customers like our Apple computers very much. Isn't that what we want to see in the end?"

"What's more, there is another point, there is a gambling agreement of dollars to tempt Zhang Yi, and he will also urge him to come up with more software, which is very popular for users and us!"

Looking at the members of the management team, they were very convinced by their explanations, and Jobs felt very happy.

Cook hesitated and asked, "Doesn't this VAM need to be explained to the board of directors?"

Jobs snorted coldly and said: "These vampires will only lie on the body of the apple and suck blood, and explain to them that they will only add chaos to the company's management! What's more, more than 4,000 institutional investors have just held a shareholders' meeting, and if they hold a shareholders' meeting again for this agreement, those shareholders are not crazy!"

"This matter has been decided!" Jobs pointed to the head of the legal department.

"You will contact Zhang Yi tomorrow to sign the VAM agreement as soon as possible, and I also need him to help the company to eliminate the bugs on Apple's operating system and speed up the progress of its listing!"

"Okay, Mr. Jobs, I will sign an agreement with them as soon as possible as you requested!" the head of the legal department stood up and responded respectfully.

"Well, it's nothing, just break up!

After everyone left and closed the door of the conference room, Jobs pinched his tired head and said to Cook: "I know you are worried that if Apple wants to build a software store in the future, it will be pitted by this agreement, but have you thought about it, with Apple's current software strength, it will take at least two years to develop Apple's operating system before it can be basically perfected to the point where it can be listed. Besides, we can't afford to wait. Looking at the computers on the street, all Windows systems, I want to vomit blood. ”

He lowered his head and thought for a while, and then said: "In terms of the requirements of the agreement, we can't run a software store, but there is still another vulnerability that can be exploited, we can learn from Bill's guy, in order to defeat Netscape, bundle IE browser into the operating system, then we will not be a violation of the agreement!"

"However, when you bundle software into the operating system, you can't charge for it. Cook thought for a moment, but still responded a little unwillingly.

"So, Cook, do you think it's more important to sell Apple computers or sell some small applications?"

"We, Apple, selling Apple computers, of course, are the most important!" said Cook without hesitation.

For Cook's firmness, Jobs expressed his approval: "That's not it, our main business is to sell Apple computers, and the emergence of third-party application software, fundamentally speaking, is still conducive to our Apple computer sales." What's more, any business behavior is a win-win situation, and Zhang Yi sees Apple's potential, so he will make great efforts to help us improve the operating system. After all, the sooner he finishes it, the sooner he can sell the mall's software. ”

"Okay, you've convinced me, then sign the agreement!" Cook finally agreed.

Jobs nodded reassuringly at Cook.

He needs to say the same thing in the company, but he also needs Cook's kind of independent and rational thinking. After all, history has proven that no authoritarian company lasts. He didn't want Apple to fall apart one day without him.