You know, Gates has been in a bad mood lately.

His good friend and co-founder of Microsoft Corporation, Paul Brown. Allen, diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, had to step down from management so he could concentrate on treatment.

The original happy and hard-working trio has become itself and Steve. Ballmer's two-person turn of eyes can be described as a sudden increase in work pressure.

In addition, Microsoft's spreadsheet software MultiPlan has been completely crippled by Lotus1-2-3 of Lotus on the IBM-PC platform, and it is hopeless.

If Microsoft doesn't want to exit this product area, it will have to start anew and develop a spreadsheet software with a more advanced technical architecture to replace the current MultiPlan and re-compete with Lotus 1-2-3.

Gates never expected that he was in a hurry, and VisiCorp suddenly took out a VisiOn and grabbed food with him on the operating system of the IBM-PC platform.

It stands to reason that since VisiCorp's spreadsheet software VisiCalc and Microsoft's MultiPlan are in a similar situation, and they have both been trampled under the feet of Lotus Software's Lotus1-2-3, the two companies should be sympathetic and hateful.

But why don't you think about how to deal with Lotus software, but stab me in the back? It's really a soft pinch of persimmons.

Seeing this scene, Gates can be described as angry.

After the development department scolded the various project teams, Gates returned to the office and began to figure out how to deal with VisiCorp's VisiOn in the operating system space.

Since being invited by Steve Jobs to visit the R&D results of the MAC project team. Gates was calm on the surface. But I already knew that the graphical user interface was the future of operating systems.

With the help of an agreement that has been secretly reached with Jobs. With the convenience of Microsoft's development of office software for Apple's MAC, Gates had a great opportunity to learn more about the graphical user interface of the MAC and set out to translate it into Microsoft's own technical achievements.

In this regard, Gates did not have any psychological burden, and Guy Jobs himself did not hide the fact that he stole from Xerox PARC, so the article was generally copied in the world.

Although Microsoft doesn't have to go from 0 to 1 and has MAC as a reference, the complexity of the graphical user interface is still beyond Gates's expectations. Little commendable progress has been made so far.

Software development, which relies heavily on intelligence, has a very unique character, that is, simply accumulating manpower does not necessarily lead to substantial progress, and if you can get a smart project manager or programmer to take the lead, it can be called a thousand troops.

Knowing this, Gates does not intend to blindly expand the scale of the Windows project team, not to mention that the reality does not allow it, and Microsoft's software development tasks are very heavy.

First of all, IBM is working on the next generation of personal computers, the IBM-PC/AT, with Intel's next-generation microprocessor Intel 80286. Microsoft will cooperate with the progress of the Blue Giant project and come up with a corresponding new version of MS-DOS.

Meantime. The work of secretly developing office software for Steve Jobs' MAC was also urgent. You must know that the reason why Microsoft picked up this leak is entirely because Jobs personally wanted to exclude Tang Huan's philosophers, which can be called an unavoidable opportunity.

In addition, Microsoft's starting product, BASIC, does not dare to relax. After all, whether it is IBM-PC, or Fangyuan personal computer, and other personal computers whose market position is becoming more and more niche, they all maintain a strong demand for Microsoft BASIC, which is an evergreen source of the company's profits.

Thinking of this, Gates tragically found that his Microsoft could not launch Windows in half a year, let alone VisiOn, which was competing head-on with VisiCorp.

Gates scratched his ears and cheeks for a while, still thinking hard to no avail, and in desperation, he had to pick up the phone and ask his subordinates. Ballmer did not have in the company. As he wished, the other party happened to be returning from Silicon Valley at this time.

……

Sitting across from Gates, Steve. Ballmer subconsciously grabbed his hair, then looked at his palm and smiled bitterly, why did he start to lose his hair obviously now? It's torture! If this continues, it is estimated that the degree of bald head will not be far away.

"Steve, do you have a good way to deal with VisiOn?" Gates couldn't wait to ask.

"Bill, I feel like we should address the current mindset issue first." Steve. Ballmer muttered, "After Paul was hospitalized, you became very agitated, and this affected your decision when faced with problems. ”

Gates thought about it seriously for a moment, nodded and reviewed: "You're right, I really need to adjust my anxious mentality. ”

Steve. Ballmer smiled with relief, "Actually, Microsoft's situation has not become much worse, after all, MultiPlan is only a new profit growth point, and its status is limited, even if it is planted, it will not hurt us." What's more, Compaq Computer has just bought an MS-DOS license from us, which is definitely a good start. ”

"Do you think that other IBM-PC compatible opportunities will follow in the footsteps of Compaq and proliferate, and MS-DOS will become a necessity for compatible machine manufacturers, just like BASIC?" Listened to Steve. Ballmer's analysis, Gates's eyes lit up.

Without waiting for an answer, Gates continued: "If that's the case, then it's all the more necessary for us to snipe VisiCorp's VisiOn, lest it steal our operating system territory." ”

"In my opinion, VisiOn is really nothing more than a half-finished product. I don't know which of the VisiCorp tendons are wrong, so I took it out early to show off. "Steve. Ballmer snorted disdainfully.

Gates habitually thought as he began to sway in his chair before he said, "It seems." It is indeed necessary to have a calm mind. I think about it now. VisiCorp demonstrates the machine used by VisiOn. It's more like a DEC-VAX minicomputer terminal than an IBM-PC. There are a lot of mysteries in this! ”

Steve. Ballmer swayed his body in different directions as he leisurely offered his own suggestion, "We can also bluff and put a smokebomb to make those who are interested in choosing VisiOn hesitate, or simply wait for us to roll out Windows." ”

Gates slapped the table abruptly, "Then we have to snipe at VisiCorp in terms of launch time and sales price." Let its plan to seize the market fall through. ”

"We can also rely on external forces." Steve. Ballmer unconsciously grabbed a handful of hair, and then added with a slightly wry smile, "Jobs is so conceited, even Apple's own graphical user interface Lisa computer has no scruples to suppress, VisiOn will not let go, and this time Zheru may not be able to sit still." ”

"Tang has always had his own plans, and I'm afraid he won't bother with VisiCorp, a clown. What's more, he is not in Silicon Valley at the moment. Gates shook his head.

"It's because Don isn't in Silicon Valley that Louis, who is in charge of Philosopher. Guo Shi will be even more angry. It's important to know that VisiCorp isn't just about launching VisiOn. On top of that, a complete set of software such as word processing, spreadsheets, spell checking, and so on has been packaged. It is also a similar kit specifically for Zheru, and the pricing is reduced accordingly. ”

Steve. Ballmer smiled sarcastically, "VisiCorp is currying favor with IBM, and has rushed to the forefront of the confrontation between IBM-PC and Fangyuan PC. Just look at how Lotus 1-2-3 fought back to see where the bottom line of Teru's tolerance is. ”

"It's a really good strategy." Gates had a mischievous smile on his face, then picked up the phone, "I'll remind Jobs and Louis first. Gerstner, and then put a smoke bomb on Bit magazine -- Microsoft will launch Windows 1.0 at COMDEX for just $250 this fall. ”

……

Louis. With an excellent track record as an executive at McKinsey & Company and American Express, and the most experienced corporate management among Tang Huan's subordinates, Gerstner is highly regarded as not only responsible for Zheru's lucrative ERP department, but also in charge of the discipline supervision of all companies.

After Tang Huan left Silicon Valley, Louis. Gerstner is busier.

One of the tasks stemmed from Tang Huan's intention to turn the ERP department, which is more focused on the professional field than the technology itself, into a separate application software service provider called PeopleSoft, and at the same time acquire an audit company to strengthen its professional field.

There's also one more piece that Jean Louis. Gerstner found some intolerable problems with Seeq, a Silicon Valley-based company that provides EEPROM.

Louis. Gerstner was thinking about how to deal with it properly, and Gates called with a "kind reminder". He hurriedly asked someone to send the relevant information about VisiCorp, but after only a few glances, he couldn't help but have a cold light in his eyes.

The VisiOn costs $495 and requires an additional $250 mouse.

Zheru had bought the patent for the mouse from Stanford University, but VisiCorp, the developer of VisiOn, did not come to greet Zheru.

Crucially, VisiOn's lead time is not until the end of the year, and VisiCorp has capitalized on this high-profile interest to launch the Visi suite.

Among them, the spreadsheet software VisiCalc costs $395, the charting software VisiGraph costs $250, and the word processing software VisiWord costs $375.

In addition, the Visi suite includes components such as VisiFile, spell checker, and more.

Seeing that the Visi kit was pitted against the Zheru kit in terms of features and price, Louis. Gerstner's first reaction was that this was a market operation plan to deliberately help IBM-PC expand its territory, and it had to be prepared as hard as it did against Lotus 1-2-3.

Louis. Gerstner thought for a moment, and then brought in Charles in charge of technology. Simeone, directly asked if the other party knew anything about VisiCorp's VisiOn.

Results Charles. Simeone smiled disdainfully, "This VisiOn has been hyped so much lately, how could I not have heard of it." However, the software was developed on a UNIX workstation, and the machine used for the demonstration was not like an IBM-PC. So, if not a hoax, it's probably a gimmick and a farce. ”

Louis. Gerstner asked with a serious face, "What do you think of VisiOn's demo effect compared to the graphical user interface system we are developing?" (To be continued......)