Zhou Shuo shook his head, looked at Farrell and said, "Will Microsoft ask Xerox to sell their graphics operating system patents?" ”

Farrell was stunned when he heard this, and then he looked Zhou Shuo up and down carefully. His heart began to reassess him, this Chinese was able to know that the patent of the graphics operating system was in the hands of Xerox, which showed that he was not an easy person to fool. Although these are all messages that can be collected on the surface, in this era, it is very special for Chinese to be able to notice this.

Microsoft is the owner of the most powerful operating system software of the future, but people tend to overlook Xerox, which has been hiding behind it.

Ranked No. 15 on the 2008 list of highly profitable technology companies, Xerox was founded in 1906 and is a remarkable 100-year-old company. Xerox is best known for its electrostatic copier, but it also invents the personal computer, mouse, Windows drop-down menu, desktop fax machine, and local area network.

The extraordinary thing about this company is that it has formed an electronics industry alliance using its own patents. And it, hiding behind the alliance, shares the nutrition of the entire system. Network equipment giant Cisco's LAN technology comes from it; Compaq's personal computer technology comes from it; IBM works with it on server technology; Microsoft's GUI technology also comes from it......

Of course, such alliances also exist between Applied Materials and Intel, between Intel and Dell, and in the future between Qualcomm and Apple, and between many more electronics technology companies. Their skills overlap and authorize each other, eventually weaving together into a tight net that blocks all threats from outside the network.

Farrell smiled indifferently and said, "If Xerox's GUI patent is sold, Microsoft will certainly be interested." ”

Zhou Shuo looked at him deeply, and sneered: "But Microsoft doesn't dare to tell Xerox that I want your patent." ”

Farrell spread his hands, shook his head and said, "But you're not Xerox either!" ”

James saw that the words and swords between the two of them and the smell of gunpowder were getting stronger and stronger, so he hurriedly came out and said, "Farrell, you sit down first, let's talk slowly if you have anything to say." ”

The waiter brought a chair for him, and Farrell pulled it over and sat down. He stretched out a finger and said to Zhou Shuo, "Ten million dollars, how about it?" Can you spend so much money in a lifetime in China? ”

Zhou Shuo gently cut off a piece of good steak meat, dipped it in the sauce and sent it to his mouth, chewed it carefully for a while, and swallowed it slowly. Just when Farrell was about to get impatient with the wait, he said, "Is this Microsoft's attitude towards guests?" ”

"Hey, boy!" Farrell knocked on the table, looked at him proudly and said, "Microsoft's guests are not something that anyone can do, you think too highly of yourself." If you don't want to sell, go back to China as soon as possible. ”

Zhou Shuo felt a little strange in his heart, didn't Microsoft care about the threat of Netscape? It's strange that Farrell, as the head of Microsoft's browser project, would have such an attitude towards network communication software patents.

He didn't know what to do, and here his memory was indeed wrong. Microsoft's main business has always been the operating system, and for browsers, of course, it is better to have it, and it doesn't seem to matter if you don't have it. From an afterthought's point of view, Netscape is also dying on its own.

Netscape, the success of the first generation of browsers, quickly became self-aggrandizing and wanted to develop a web application system that users could operate through a browser, which poked Microsoft's sore spot. Fearing that Netscape might threaten its operating system and application market, Microsoft bought the original Mosaic license from Telescope Entertainment in 1995 and developed IE based on it.

Before Netscape revealed its ambitions, Microsoft was purely in contact with Zhou Shuo with the idea of having dates and not playing with dates. Network communication software technology is indeed fascinating, but it is not necessary for Microsoft. As for Farrell, if Zhou Shuo is no longer willing to contact Microsoft on patent issues, then the settings of the browser project no longer make sense, and he can naturally return to the project team of the operating system.

Zhou Shuo shook his head, sighed and said, "In this case, I have to contact other software companies." ”

This is by no means a good choice.

Whether it is Netscape Browser or instant messaging software ICQ, for Microsoft, it is a stepping stone to its ascension to the software hegemony. When Microsoft raised the banner of monopoly, Netscape and ICQ eventually turned into the dust of history. As far as the browser war with Netscape is concerned, Microsoft's IE performance is not outstanding, and the kernel is not open, but it relies on the operating system to bundle and cut Netscape under the horse. Even if Netscape later sued Microsoft for monopoly and Microsoft was fined a huge sum of $750 million, Netscape, which was once worth $8 billion, has long since disappeared.

After this battle, Microsoft's bully face is undoubtedly revealed. In the face of the enemy that threatens him, monopoly is its knife, but patent protection is not the victim's shield. Throughout Microsoft's journey, "I just have unfair competition, monopoly, and infringement, and I will fight you first if I admit compensation!" The style has always accompanied it and its enemies.

In front of such a monster, even if Zhou Shuo has a patent for instant messaging software, can he have a sense of security?

Of course, Microsoft in 1994 was not yet so domineering. So before Microsoft formed a monopoly, Zhou Shuo's best way was to become its ally, not its enemy.

Farrell shrugged his shoulders when he heard this, and said innocently, "Then I can only wish you well." ”

With that, he turned to leave.

At the end of the meal, farewell to the three of James, Zhou Shuo sat in the car and yawned.

Pang Zhou set the car on fire and couldn't help asking, "Master, why don't you take you back to the hotel to rest first?" ”

Zhou Shuo waved his hand, rubbed his eyes and said, "No, let's go to the company first." I'll put up with it and get a good night's sleep, so that tomorrow the jet lag will be reversed during the day. ”

"Okay." Pang Zhou skillfully reversed and drove, blending into the traffic on the road.

The car arrived downstairs in the company, and Zhou Shuo looked up. I saw that this was a four-story low building, and it was white throughout. The ground floor seems to be a supermarket and there is a big parking lot in front of the door. On the roof of the building is a plaque with a huge logo printed on it, which looks like the company is the owner of the office building.

Zhou Shuo turned his head and just wanted to ask Yu Qiong to get out of the car together, but saw that she had fallen asleep quietly in the back seat. Pang Zhou still wanted to wake her up, Zhou Shuo shook his head, got out of the car lightly, and locked the door.

Zhou Shuo stood on the side of the car, sighed and said, "Yu Qiong is also tired, just let her sleep for a while, let's go up." ”

"Oh, good." Pang Zhou nodded, then carried his eldest brother and led the way in front of Zhou Shuo.

The two of them went up to the second floor and turned around to a corner. This is a large cubicle, the area of 200 square meters is divided into two parts, one large and one small, the large side of the office area is placed with seven or eight desks, and the small side is arranged as a manager's office.

In the office area, two people, one yellow and one white, are chatting idly. Seeing Pang Zhou coming, the yellow race quickly stood up and said in Chinese with a Cantonese flavor: "Boss Pang, you are back." Who is this? ”

Pang Zhou pointed at Zhou Shuo and said, "Let me introduce you, this is our Xinke computer investor in China, Mr. Zhou Shuo." That is, my boss, and at the same time my master. Master, this is my translator, Lao Wang, who is a Malay-Chinese. ”

The white man was a handsome guy with brown hair and blue eyes, who looked to be in his twenties. Seeing Pang Zhou coming, he stood up lazily and said hello listlessly: "Hi, Pang." ”

The yellow man translated Pang Zhou's words to him, and the handsome white guy only smiled at Zhou Shuo slightly, and then went back and continued to do nothing.

Pang Zhou sighed and said to Zhou Shuo: "This person's name is Brown, Master, don't be like him, he is the one I found to be a façade." You know, in this part of the United States, with a yellow face, it's really hard to do something. ”

Zhou Shuo looked around at the office and said unconcernedly, "Oh, it's okay. How much does it cost? ”

When Pang Zhou heard his question, he said excitedly: "The rent here is only 1,500 US dollars a month, which is the cheapest I have found." ”

Zhou Shuo shook his head, frowned and said, "Return here." ”

Pang Zhou was stunned and said, "Retreat? However, I have already paid the rent and deposit, and if I return it now, the deposit will not be returned......"

Zhou Shuo said firmly: "Then retreat, this can't be the headquarters of Xinke in the United States." ”

"That'...... All right. Between his trust in Zhou Shuo, Pang Zhou agreed with some reluctance.

Zhou Shuo patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's not that you didn't do well, it's just that the situation has changed now." Since Microsoft's cooperation cannot be counted on for a while, we will have to fend for ourselves. Office conditions are the face of the company, and they must not be sloppy. ”

Hearing Zhou Shuo say this, Pang Zhou became happy again. He nodded and said, "Then Master, what do you want, I'll go to Zhang Luo." ”

Zhou Shuo stretched out three fingers and said, "Houses, people, and cars, all three of them must be done before the COMDEX exhibition." Rent a floor in an office building in an upscale office area. To recruit employees, there should be at least 30 business personnel and 5 technical personnel in the initial stage. For official cars, let's get three first. ”

Pang Zhou was stunned when he heard his plan, and said, "Master, this is a lot of money......

"I know it." Zhou Shuo nodded slightly, and said, "I was born to be useful, and I will come back when my daughter is gone." ”