PS: If you want to hear more of your voices and receive more of your suggestions, search for the WeChat public account "qdread" now and pay attention to it to give more support to "Rebirth Technology Maniac"!

"Yes, I remember that it also tried to implement a graphical user interface, but the design target was a personal computer under $1,000, and the team had very limited resources at its disposal, and the last time I was in Macura's office, I saw Ruskin asking for help, and Makula was very generous in allocating another amount of money to him. Tang Huan patiently explained that he hoped that Apple would soon launch a reliable next-generation product, which would be a good opponent of IBM.

And most importantly, in the original time and space, MAC is a hardware platform that will play a pivotal role in balancing the business relationship between companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Lotus.

Obviously, Jobs knew what to expect, and did not continue to talk about it, but pointed to the second-generation Fangyuan computer sent and asked, "Is this the same model as what I just saw?"

"Of course. You don't want to be a gentleman with a villain's heart, this is the highest-end model, and the CPU used is Motorola's MC68000. After Tang Huan sarcastically said to Jobs, he waved his hand generously, "Give you a chance, if you have any questions, just ask them, I don't mind passing on some experience." ”

In terms of understanding of IT technology, Jobs can't compare to Gates, so Tang Huan's generosity is just a gesture, he understands that the reason why the other party insists on disassembling the main chassis of the second-generation Fangyuan computer is just to confirm that this is really a personal computer. You Tang Huan can develop it. I, Jobs, can do the same.

When you see the CPU and CPU sockets, memory modules and memory slots, south-bridge chips, north-bridge chips, clock chips, ISA bus expansion slots, graphics cards, sound cards and other parts 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 wrong, and pointed out and introduced the role of each module, "I hope that when you design the next generation of personal computers, you will use the same ISA bus, so that you can do it." The products of both of us can be used on the expansion slot. ”

"My product, I don't have these extra expansion slots. Jobs shook his head and said yes.

Yes, it was as narrow as in the original time and space, and Tang Huan was almost angry.

However, Jobs is not bad at one point, he can show a certain degree of respect for people with real skills, looking at the second-generation Fangyuan computer in front of him, although he did not say a word of praise. But he didn't say even a word of disdain.

After looking at the hardware inside the case, Jobs turned his attention back to the interface on the display.

The disk operating system used by Fangyuan computers. It is not called FreeDOS instead of the company name and then the abbreviation DOS as is commonly seen in the industry, which can be regarded as a tribute to the original open source community by Tang Huan.

The reason why Jobs was attracted to the second-generation Fangyuan computer was because Tang Huan asked Simeone to design the menu system on FreeDOS, although it was far from being comparable to the ideal graphical user interface in his mind, but it was enough to bring convenience to ordinary users, and if he brought an optional mouse, the effect would be even better.

Of course, the menu system that Jobs saw did not achieve the effect of windows in the original space-time, but was similar to the IDE environment of the TurboC editor.

In fact, this mechanism is reflected in the first generation of Fangyuan computers and the three major commercial software, although the second generation of Fangyuan computers without the MC68000 are brilliant, but they can also be called practical rather than ornamental.

"Don't you have any plans to develop a graphical user interface?" Jobs stared at Tang Huan and said the biggest question in his heart.

"Not in the short term, it's too difficult. Tang Huan shrugged frankly, "It can even be said that this task is a little too great. ”

"I just love doing great things. Jobs muttered, got up and left, but didn't forget his promise, "You can rest assured, I won't be staring at this thing again, it's nothing more than that." ”

"That's good. Tang Huan smiled faintly, sent Jobs away, watched him drive away in the newly bought luxury car, and wondered in his heart, sooner or later, Ruskin will tragically hand over control of the MAC project, and Jobs will definitely recruit troops after mastering the project as he wishes, so Apple will have to make personnel changes again.

……

Zheru finally regained his composure, and Tang Huan began to evaluate the computer system specially developed by Stephen Hawking, a second-generation Fangyuan computer that provides special input methods, electronic synthesis speech, English thesaurus, and a customized version of the word processing software WordEasy.

Stephen Hawking is a scientist, so this version of WordEasy not only provides support for various mathematical symbols, but also adds quite powerful typesetting functions for mathematics and physics, which is a bit similar to the open-source software TeX written by Donald Ervin Knuth, a computer professor in the United States.

Because Hawking's mobility is limited, it is particularly important to find all kinds of bug testing, so this customized version of WordEasy was installed on the second-generation Fangyuan computer and sent to nearby Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, etc., for professors to use for free and find potential problems.

Unexpectedly, there were few defects in the report, but a lot of fragmentary orders were obtained one after another, which is really an exaggeration.

Originally, according to the initial plan, in the months before the end of the year, the second-generation Fangyuan computer will only be fully rolled out in Asia, and the United States will mainly integrate with the database EBase and various information management systems, and sell them to commercial users as a whole.

As a result, customers are now asking for it through retail channels. Door-to-door sales can not be done, then take it, anyway, these customers in the university are of high quality. Even if something goes wrong. It is also easy to service and solve.

But. Among these orders from the academic community, Tang Huan unexpectedly found the name of that Knus, which not only made him a little crying and laughing, but he borrowed TeX that the other party was still writing at this time, and he should actually pay some copyright fees.

Knus has a more famous Chinese name, Gartner, which he took before his visit to China in 1977 with the help of Chu Feng, the wife of Chinese computer scientist Yao Qizhi.

Gartner is a pioneer of modern computer science and winner of the Turing Award in 1974. His book "TheArt of Computer Programming" is one of the most respected reference books in the field of computer science, and "AmericanScientist" magazine has listed it as one of the 12 most important physical science books of the 20th century, along with Einstein's "Theory of Relativity", Dirac's "Quantum Mechanics", and Richard Feynman's "Quantum Electrodynamics".

In 1968, Gartner turned down a job offer and became a professor of computer science at Stanford University.

Gartner wrote TeX because the current level of typography was so rough that it had affected the print quality of his magnum opus, The Art of Computer Programming. So he used the typical hacker mindset and finally decided to write his own typesetting software.

Gartner thinks it will only take half a year. In the second half of 1978, TeX could be completed. But apparently he was overly optimistic, and there was still a lot of distance between scientists and commercial software providers, so he was attracted by the WordEasy Hawking Edition of the second-generation Fangyuan computer.

Tang Huan has always wanted to set up a team of consultants composed of famous computer experts, but he can take this opportunity to operate.

At this time, Chambers returned from Las Vegas, and he reported to Tang Huan on the preparations for COMDEX.

With the foundation of the first session last year, not only the organizer, but also the future Jinsha gambling king Adelson has experience, Zheru is also familiar with it, and has already come up with a complete plan, Tang Huan doesn't have to worry about that, so he handed over the task of this consulting team to the other party.

"It is possible to take this opportunity to further penetrate the second-generation Fangyuan computer into the field of education. Chambers said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"At present, the second-generation Fangyuan computer is slightly expensive, the performance is wasted, and it is estimated that only the administrative department and the library will be interested in these limited occasions, but the first-generation Fangyuan computer and Apple computer are suitable for students to learn computer principles. Tang Huan shook his head slightly, "You can try it." ”

"I met Gates on the road, and he's going to come over and visit in a moment. Chambers, who nodded, changed his words and said.

"He should be busy with the IBM chess project, how can he have time to come to Silicon Valley?" Tang Huan raised his eyebrows, a little puzzled.

"Microsoft is also developing BASIC for the Atari personal computer, and he also wants to take over the version on our second-generation Fangyuan computer platform. Chambers smiled, "Atari is getting bigger and bigger now, and in addition to video game consoles, personal computers are also missing. ”

"It's just burning money, like a laboratory, it's incubating a lot of projects in a swarm, and if you scratch your nose and eyebrows, you'll soon suffer. Tang Huan didn't bother to care about Atari's life or death.

Moreover, recently, the other party has been very unrestrained in the licensing of the Atari 2600 platform, as long as the money is invested, you can develop video games, and there are more and more inferior works, which is inevitably a bit eager for quick success and destroys the long-term development of the market.

Although he knew that the original time and space were also reborn in such a chaotic situation, Tang Huan was still dissatisfied with this, and it was really unkind to be so crazy before it was time to perish.

Tang Huan turned his attention back to Microsoft, 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 BASIC is, it also belongs to the category of programming languages, which is still difficult for ordinary users, and professionals who want to really develop programs will only choose tools such as assembly language, especially after the three major commercial software, this product is not indispensable. At least that's the case on the Fangyuan computer.

As he spoke. Gates arrived as promised. And the meaning is just as Chambers just said.

"Are you busy with Microsoft? Haven't you already taken over the IBM project?" Tang Huan asked casually.

"It's completely busy, Microsoft has been providing BASIC for different types of platforms from various vendors, and it has long been familiar with it. Gates replied with a smile.

Everyone is a peer, there is a wind and grass, it is inevitable to get the news, especially Microsoft BASIC has become a standard program, and the wind is working on a new generation of personal computers IBM. It's normal to choose Microsoft as a partner. Just like Tang Huan entered the field of hardware and developed a personal computer, which is already known to everyone.

However, information is also hierarchical and hierarchical, and the secrets about the operating system must have been covered up by BASIC, and a smug thought flashed in Gates's heart.

"Microsoft has already got the prototype of IBM?" Tang Huan continued to ask unmoved.

"We can do most of the tasks with the simulator, and we don't need a prototype yet. Facing Tang Huan's gaze, Gates was a little weak when he spoke.

"Well, that's a bit of a problem. We didn't prepare the simulator, after all. Software problems can be solved entirely on our own. Tang Huan spread his hands regretfully.

"That's right, just use the prototype directly, and it's more convenient when debugging the program. Gates changed his tone, and added a special sentence, "I heard that the work computer provided by Zheru to COMDEX is a newly developed product, and it is a bit inaccurate to classify it as a sample, and it should belong to a mature product, but it has not yet fully rolled out the sales channel." ”

"Bill, don't stop me with words. Tang Huan couldn't help but be a little amused, "You answer me first, did Microsoft get the prototype of IBM?" I just want to know how the other party's project progress, there is no other meaning, you don't even give this face in private, so how do you do business." ”

Gates scratched his head, weighed the pros and cons, and felt that even if he secretly confided in his mouth, it would not have any impact on a behemoth like IBM, and it was still important to sell Tang Huan a favor.

Thinking of this, Gates made the most sincere expression on his face, "Since you have to get to the bottom of it, I'll take a legal risk and tell you." ”

"This is a good friend, IBM is a big company, and it is not for nothing. Tang Huan got up and poured two glasses of red wine, put them on the coffee table, and drank them with Gates.

"The prototype won't be delivered to Microsoft headquarters in Seattle until early next month, and we have some details to discuss with IBM, and Ballmer has been working on the East Coast lately. ”

Gates carefully picks out some information disclosures, but never mentions the operating system, which is a platform product that he has always dreamed of, and the less people know about it, the better.

From Gates's words, the progress of the chess plan was inferred, and then the news obtained from other sources corroborated it, Tang Huan was very satisfied.

As for the operating system, Tang Huan didn't ask, and after IBM-PC and Microsoft DOS entered the market together, he could use the platform open agreement reached with Gates when he went to Seattle to see Silicon Valley One.

"Bill, that's interesting, everyone is happy to work together, and the BASIC project is easy to say. Tang Huan and Gates touched the crystal cup, "But there is one thing, after Microsoft gets the prototype of IBM, I can provide you with the prototype debugging program, you can understand my purpose." ”

"I understand, 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 stroked his palms and smiled, "Let's go, I'll take you to take a closer look at the new generation of personal computers." ”

When Gates saw the Intel8086 and MC68000 two models of second-generation Fangyuan computers, he couldn't help but be stunned, he only knew that Tang Huan was involved in the field of personal computers, but he didn't expect that the other party's stall was so big, and Gates knew far more about technology than Jobs, and he also understood what it meant.

"How is it possible that you have developed two personal computers at the same time. Gates muttered.

"It's just that the CPUs used are different, and the software platforms are compatible, so it's not two kinds of personal computers. Tang Huan pretended to be modest.

"That's even harder. Gates is becoming more and more depressed, and Tang Huan's mastery of technology research and development power makes Gates feel a sense of powerlessness and despair.

"I have a lot of men. Tang Huan snorted sloppily.

"You don't have to be modest, IBM invested billions of dollars in the development of System/360 in the 1960s, and it has already shown from its own experience that it is not that the more people, the faster the project is developed. Gates shook his head with a wry smile, "There's a management level problem here, it's incredible that your company is expanding so fast, but still maintaining such amazing efficiency." ”

The more Gates talked, the more frustrated he became, and he had the old idea that Zheru would suffer from indigestion because of his rapid growth, and eventually fall into civil strife like MITS, and finally end up in disgrace. Now that I think about it, it's a ridiculous thought.

Seeing that Gates seemed to have been hit, Tang Huan hurriedly patted the other party's shoulder and comforted: "You should take a look at the technical specifications of the second-generation Fangyuan computer, this is the most practical." ”

Gates nodded, but he soon fell into deeper despair, although he didn't get the IBM prototype, but Gates has seen and understood the specifications attached to it, which is obviously much inferior to the personal computer in front of him.

No, you have to prepare with both hands, and you can't hang yourself on the big tree of IBM. (The novel "Rebirth Technology Maniac" will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, and there will be a 100% lottery gift for everyone!Open WeChat now, click on the "+" sign in the upper right corner "Add Friends", search for the official account "qdread" and follow, hurry up!) (To be continued......)