……

Tang IT's excellent grasp of the industry trend attracted a warm applause. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

Gates politely applauded a few times, and there was an inexplicable sense of loss in his heart - not because of jealousy of Tang Huan, but because he felt as if he had neglected something.

Because of other people's nagging, it was difficult to enter Gates's ears, so after listening to Tang Huan's speech, he got up and left the venue, so as to think carefully about where that sense of loss came from.

The liveliness of Microsoft's booth made Gates very satisfied.

Since his personal relationship with Tang Huan completely cooled, he has gone all out to develop a Windows_95 for the consumer market, and finally made progress beyond the StudiOS_i of Zheru Software - at this year's COMDEX, the official version was Windows_95 shown, while StudiOS_i only came out with a beta version, and it is said that the official version will not be launched until next year.

In fact, Windows_95 is an upgraded version of Windows_3.1 Windows_4 but it is commercially packaged, just like the StudiOS_i of Zheru, according to the version number of the kernel, it should also be version 4.

Windows_95 significance to Microsoft is that it finally has a 32-bit consumer-level operating system that can get rid of the MS_DOS environment and run independently~, and it maintains the compatibility of MS_DOS's 16-bit applications well, so that it will not be able to compete with Zheru software.

At present, there are three operating systems of Zheru Software - the enterprise-grade Artascope - Vientiane and the consumer-grade StudiOS and FreeDOS, with Microsoft corresponding to Windows_NT and Windows_95, and MS-DOS.

Gates knew in his heart that Artascope's real competitor was Unix, and Windows_NT couldn't make it up at all, mainly in the ring with Novell_Netware.

Windows and MS-DOS are also inferior to StudiOS and FreeDOS in terms of functionality and quality, but the rules of survival for the consumer market are different from those for the enterprise market - far better than MS-DOS, Windows_95 is definitely a fight.

Taking the current situation as an example, IBM-PC compatible machines, whose market share has withered, have no choice but to upgrade to Windows_95 operating systems; Fangyuan personal computer compatible machine manufacturers have shown strong interest in low-priced Windows_95; when Microsoft went to Fangyuan to talk about pre-installing Windows_95 on Fangyuan personal computers, the other party did not dare to explicitly refuse -- these are all opportunities.

Although Microsoft could not afford to spend more than $300 million to promote the "i strategy" like Zheru Software, it also prepared a budget of nearly $100 million for Windows_95 marketing, which is enough to get a piece of the bigger and bigger personal computer cake.

It stands to reason that even if it is not as powerful as Zheru, compared with other software companies, the lineup of Microsoft's product line is much neater and more reassuring, but after coming to the COMDEX venue in Las Vegas, Gates just feels that he has ignored something.

As he pondered, he saw Jim Alchin, the company's No. 3 person, vice president of Microsoft's operating system division, hurriedly walk in.

"Have you talked to those compatible phone manufacturers?" Gates asked casually.

Jim Alchin nodded, "I'll just tell them one thing - even if the Windows_95 doesn't seem to have all the features, it's enough for individual users, it's cheap enough, and it's absolutely inexpensive." ”

"On the Windows platform, there are also various application software, including MS-Office, with a complete ecological chain, of course, it is enough!" Gates said rather conceitedly.

Jim Alchin certainly agreed, but instead of answering, he looked around.

When he saw the assistant who had been "disguised" and came over with a computer bag, Jim Alchin hurriedly beckoned, called him in front of him, and asked in a low voice, "Did you get it?"

"The latest beta StudiOS_i has been installed on the laptop. The assistant replied as he put the computer bag on the table and took out the laptop inside, "However, StudiOS_i does not support the Windows_95 with us, coexisting with multiple operating systems, so I had to format the hard disk, and the new installation StudiOS_i, some of the original data is gone." ”

"Hell. Jim Alchin grumbled about StudiOS_i overbearing, then impatiently booted up his laptop, the familiar scroll flipping screen flashed across the screen, and then entered the StudiOS workspace.

Gates, who is the best at stealing teachers, saw this scene and immediately understood that Jim Alchin had discovered something important, so he asked curiously: "Does StudiOS_i have any new features?"

"In this beta version, StudiOS_i added a new feature called 'Active_WorkSpace' - 'Active Workspace'. Jim Alchin pointed to his laptop with a cable connected to the internet and explained, "You see, the latest news, stock market quotes, weather forecasts, and other information on the Internet are automatically pushed over. ”

"Zheru's 'i strategy' is really not small, and the functions of the operating system and the browser are so closely combined. After Gates sighed, a flash of inspiration flashed in his head, and he slapped his thigh in annoyance, "I know what is missing in Windows_95." ”

Jim Alchin thoughtfully continued, "A browser program. ”

"It's more than that. Gates shook his head, "We were so focused on the competition of operating systems that we used to regard the 'i strategy' of Zheru Software as a plan to tap Internet business opportunities and creativity, and even regarded the browser as an ordinary application." Now it seems that the browser is not so simple, it has a tendency to become the only entry point to access the Internet, and even become an all-inclusive platform, no less than the operating system. ”

Jim Alchin, though he was carefully researching Zheru's products, had a hard time understanding Gates's ass-burning urgency, but he couldn't point it out directly, so he explained: "From now on, it shouldn't be a problem to develop a browser program that will be included in the Wndows_95 upgrade package next year." ”

"Is it that easy?" Gates, who is well-versed in technology, dragged the mouse, manipulated the Polestar browser, and muttered to himself, "There is at least one rendering engine and scripting language interpreter in this, it's not easy." ”

Jim Alchin shrugged, "Netscape's free browser Netscape_Navigator has been in development for less than a year, and it also has a paid web server product. ”

Gates thought for a moment, and then said, "You research it first, and I'll go to Netscape to have a look." ”

"Good. Jim Alchin nodded incredulously, his mind so focused on the beta StudiOS_i in front of him that he didn't want to be disturbed.

……

The booth of the small Netscape company was also lively, after all, just taking the initiative to challenge Zheru Software Company was enough to hype up a lot of popularity.

Gates did not hide his identity, and stood generously in front of the demo computer, looking at the official version of the 1.0 Netscape_Navigator browser with great interest.

Jim Clark, who had just sent off a wave of visitors, soon found Gates in the crowd who looked a little younger, and immediately walked over to say hello, "The Netscape_Navigator browser you see can support multiple platforms, and it is the best browser." ”

Gates smiled and said sharply: "As far as I know, the current market share of Zheru's Polestar browser will not be less than 80% - I don't know the best browser Netscape_Navigator, how can I catch up?"

Without waiting for Jim Clark to answer, Gates followed up and asked, "Is it free?"

"Of course, it's more than that. Jim Clark shrugged, "Our technical team, for example, is also the best. ”

Gates was noncommittal, and continued to follow his own train of thought: "If I were the head of the browser business of Zheru Software, I would launch a free version for Netscape_Navigator free, which is extremely simple to do." ”

Jim Clark originally wanted to find an opportunity to talk to Gates about the cooperation between Netscape_Navigator browser and the Microsoft platform, but he didn't expect to be so bluntly squeezed by the other party, and he was immediately a little displeased.

Jim Clark, who founded Silicon Valley Graphics Company, is also a well-known figure in Silicon Valley, how can he eat Gates's trick of cloud and fog, so he frowned and asked directly: "What do you want to explain?"

"I want to tell you that the software industry now, a single product, will soon be swallowed up by the tide of competition. Gates pointed out in an old-fashioned manner: "Netscape_Navigator is just a small fishing boat, and Zheru's complete product line is an aircraft carrier - no need to fire, just outflank you, and you can be trapped." ”

Jim Clark, who was unable to argue for a while, sneered at each other in annoyance: "Microsoft also has aircraft carriers, but unfortunately the displacement is a little smaller, and the equipment is also outdated." ”

Gates clapped his hands and smiled, "But an aircraft carrier is an aircraft carrier, and it has the necessary platform for carrier-based aircraft to take off and land - isn't that what Netscape_Navigator lacking?"

Jim Clark realized that Gates, who had been showing for a long time, also had the intention of cooperating, so he quickly sorted out his thoughts and asked slowly: "So, how can Microsoft's aircraft carrier be opened to Netscape?"

Gates opened his mouth without blinking, "Are you willing to accept Microsoft's acquisition of Netscape? Of course, the terms are negotiable." ”

Jim Clark was stunned for a moment, then replied with a wry smile, "I'm afraid, we have to think about it carefully, and we can't give an answer right away." ”

"Of course. Gates shrugged, "It's just that the market situation is changing rapidly, and I hope Netscape doesn't miss the best opportunity." ”

……

After Gates left, Mark Anderson excitedly said, "If Microsoft is willing to pay a lot of money, then we will make money, and we don't have to worry about financing anymore." ”

"Young man, you are too simple, where do you know the intrigue of Silicon Valley. Jim Clark snorted, "Microsoft also talked to Novell about the acquisition, but after the lengthy negotiation process emptied Novell's trade secrets, there was no follow-up." ”

"No......" Mark Anderson opened his mouth wide in amazement.

"Believe me, Gates can't give us what we want. Jim Clark patted Mark Anderson on the shoulder, "The bright future of the Internet is certain, and when Netscape goes public, we will definitely get more than selling the company to Microsoft." ”

……

Tang Huan wanted to rush to the APEC summit and couldn't stay too long at COMDEX, so he ordered Charles Simeone, who was still in the group organization of Zheru and was fully focused on technology, to pay attention to the new technological developments revealed at the exhibition, and then sit on Silicon Valley No. 1 and rush to Bogor, Indonesia.

It was the colonial capital of the Netherlands as a summer resort, and the Botanical Garden, founded in 1817, is world-famous – and indeed a great venue for meetings and conferences for guests of all kinds.

Compared with last year, the APEC mechanism has been improved to a greater extent, and then everyone no longer needs to come up with ideas, just follow the formulated roadmap and do things in accordance with the rules.

This year, APEC has added a new member, Chile in South America, to be approved to join, giving the richest man one more person to deal with.

However, this time, Tang Huan's mind was placed on US President Bill Clinton.

You know, in this place far from the United States, there are some topics that are easier to discuss.

Because of the tight schedule during the APEC summit, the US president and the world's richest man only had time to arrange a 15-minute private walk.

In this process, Tang Huan quietly mentioned the turmoil in Mexico's financial market, "North America has been ~ almost a year since the trade agreement officially came into effect, and the United States and Mexico have obviously gone to the front in terms of financial market docking. If a financial crisis does break out in Mexico, then I am afraid that the United States will also be affected. ”