Reborn Capital Madman

At this stage, the development of the personal computer industry is in the early stages of commercialization, and naturally it does not involve the issue of unified standards. However, as the commercial value of the personal computer industry increases, the emergence of industry giants is an inevitable trend, and then personal computer standards

It will also be unified into a certain "mainstream" system.

In Gao Xian's view, it is impossible to kill all the small workshops that imitate his own personal computers. Instead of needlessly cutting off people's financial resources, it is better to recruit them and let them manufacture peripheral accessories such as memory expansion cards to help his own personal computers grow.

camp.

As for the part of the benefits that will be given away, it doesn't matter. After all, the personal computer cake has not been made big enough. The current annual profit contribution to the Gao family is not as important as a summer Hollywood movie.

The blockbuster film "Jaws" is not even comparable to the calculators of a few years ago and the video game consoles of today.

You know, compared to the personal computer industry where small workshops are popping up everywhere, there are many regular companies operating electronic game consoles, especially home video game consoles, and the market is booming.

In fact, Gao Xian still hides a big secret in his heart, that is, after entering the high-tech field through personal computers, making money is not as high a priority as finding a bigger "home" for his little outfit!

How to give Xiaozhu a larger "home"? The most basic point is to keep the operating environment, including hardware and software, as consistent as possible.

Since personal computers have just entered the commercialization stage, there is certainly no mature profit model for software products running on this platform.

For example, the consumption behavior of specifically buying a set of office software developed by independent software vendors will be commonplace in a few years, but there is no room for it now.

Because it follows the long-standing business model of mainframe computers, the software required by users is provided by computer manufacturers along with the calculator hardware system.

Gao Xian follows this business habit and collects programs developed by third parties for his own personal computer platform. As long as the software is good enough, it will be included in the randomly distributed application package, and the developer will be paid accordingly, either based on the number of years, or based on the number of years.

Compensation for copying calculations.

When Gao Xian received the report from Zhou Wenyao on the collection of third-party development programs, he immediately browsed it and found that among the program collection results, word processing software was undoubtedly the most popular.

This phenomenon is normal, because at this stage, word processing software is an application with very basic functions. Users who know computer technology cannot edit code without word processing software; users who do not know computer technology cannot edit and read without it.

Documents cannot be separated from word processing software.

Since there are so many applicants for word processing software, no matter how popular it is, it cannot be said to be scarce. Gao Xian naturally does not need to pay too much attention. He continued to look back and finally found the target.

Gao Xian ordered his subordinates to collect third-party development programs for his personal computers. Of course, he had already expected who would be attracted to them. As he saw at this time, the BASIC programming developed by Bill Gates and Paul Allen

A compiler for a language.

To be fair, current personal computers are in great need of system software such as BASIC language compilers.

Gao Xian's personal computer is already equipped with its own C language and assembly language compilers, which can well meet the needs of system application development, but it is too difficult to get started and is not suitable for a wider range of users.

To take a specific example, a stock investor who does not understand computer technology needs to customize a complex formula to calculate data, or draw some schematic diagrams on the monitor. Therefore, it is impossible for him to spend a lot of time learning C language and assembly.

Language, if that is the case, it would be too much to sacrifice the basics, and the BASIC programming language, whose syntax is easy to understand and closer to the public's thinking, is a very good solution.

However, when it comes to technologies such as programming language compilers, they are particularly difficult to implement because they are abstract and obscure.

Gao Xian relied on open source projects in the knowledge base through Xiaozhuang to come up with a C language and assembly language compiler based on the Intel microprocessor that is closest to the underlying hardware system. He really didn't want to spend extra effort and

resources to develop a compiler for a programming language such as BASIC.

What's more, Gao Xian can predict that someone will do this kind of hard work better.

This is also true. Bill Gates and Paul Allen took the initiative to deliver the BASIC programming language compiler they developed.

Gao Xian asked Zhou Wenyao, "How is the demonstration effect of these two people's BASIC language compiler?"

Zhou Wenyao replied: "They have mailed tapes that store the latest version of the software. Judging from the running results, although the functional design ideas are very good, the execution speed is slow and there are many bugs. In this regard, Gates said on the phone

I have repeatedly promised that we will improve as quickly as possible.”

Gao Xian instructed: "In this case, you notify Gates and Allen and ask them to come over immediately to demonstrate the latest BASIC language compiler. I want to see it in person. As for the required round-trip air tickets, food and accommodation, etc., we will

Responsible."

"Immediately?" Zhou Wenyao said hesitantly: "I am very impressed by this Gates. He is a student at Harvard University. It should be a time when exams are intensive. I'm afraid I won't be able to get here in time."

Gao Xian said playfully: "Just inform them. They know how to choose. Remember to mail the tickets together. In addition, I need more detailed information about Gates and Allen."

…

Gates, the "coolie" Gao Xian can't forget, was so obsessed with debugging the BASIC language compiler on the Universal Electronics personal computer that he didn't even notice his roommate Ballmer walking over.

"Bill, your letter." Ballmer said.

Gates glanced at it casually. When he saw the sender's address of the envelope, he suddenly became energetic. He picked it up in a panic and tore open the seal. He saw a notice and two tickets inside.

"David Gao, the boss of Universal Electronics PC, wants to see our software demonstration immediately." Gates' eyes became brighter and brighter as he looked at the content of the notice.

Ballmer reminded: "Bill, don't forget the exam..."

Gates said: "I'm going to find Allen."

…

At this stage, Allen is working as a programmer for the famous Honeywell Company in Boston. For this job opportunity, he even dropped out of college after only two years of study.

Gates immediately found Allen and showed him the notice and ticket. "The other party is very sincere, but also very urgent. We cannot miss this opportunity."

Allen looked at the two tickets carefully, "They are very powerful! Even big companies like Honeywell don't often have the method of sending the tickets directly."

Gates asked excitedly: "So, you agree to us doing this demonstration?"

"Of course." Allen nodded affirmatively, "This opportunity to demonstrate a product directly to a big boss is indeed very rare."

…

Decades later in the "old script", with the convenience of information dissemination on the Internet, there are two main topics that are talked about around Gates. One is naturally the world's richest man for many years, and the other is that he has performed so well.

A big change in the profound family background, that is, Gates' mother "jumped" into the director of IBM, helping her son win the operating system purchase order for IBM-PC.

But few people pay attention to the fact that Gates and Allen are indeed geniuses.

One piece of evidence is that American high schools lead to universities, which is similar to the SAT taken by the Chinese College Entrance Examination. The full score is 1,600. Gates scored 1,590 and Allen scored 1,600.

Of course, Gates does come from a well-off family. His father is a famous lawyer in Seattle, the state of peanut stew; his mother is active in charity organizations, and it was through this platform that she met the chairman of IBM; and her grandmother even got married after Gates was born.

, established a million-dollar trust fund for it.

Due to this difference in family circumstances, Gates, who had a perfect SAT score, went to Harvard University, a famous private university on the east coast of the United States, while Allen, who had a perfect SAT score, chose the public Peanut Stew State University.

Fortunately, geniuses always have the confidence to smooth out some differences. For example, Allen dared to drop out of school and go to work in Boston, not far from Harvard University where Gates studied.

When Gates and Allen stood in front of him, after years of training, he could be called a high-ranking expert who had read countless people. He immediately judged that among the small group formed by these two people, Allen, who was two years older, was from

The subordinates are the think tanks who stand behind, while Gates is the decisive leader.

In the "old script", two of the one hundred richest people in the world, standing in front of thirty-year-old Gao Xian, are the two most useful "coolies".

Without any greetings, Gao Xian said directly: "Software demonstration, can we start now?"

Gates, who knows that big shots' time is precious, was well prepared and answered confidently: "Of course!"

Gates, who plays a leading role in a small team, demonstrated and explained the syntax error correction, mathematical operations, geometric drawing and other functions of their BASIC language compiler with ease.

After Gao Xian patiently watched Gates demonstrate the product according to his plan, he put forward several requirements based on his own ideas and asked Gates to continue the demonstration. As a result, not surprisingly, he was a little confused.

"Summarize for yourselves, what problems does this BASIC language compiler still have that affect its commercial use?" Gao Xian had a faint smile in his eyes and asked Gates to say it himself.

Gates replied unconvinced: "Indeed, the high requirements just now exposed our BASIC language compiler to problems such as lack of stability, lack of function libraries, slow running speed, etc., but this does not hinder our BASIC language compiler.

The overall excellence of the language compiler can be improved with time."

Gao Xian nodded, "Okay, I believe you have the ability to improve the product, but I still have a question, that is, after a programmer uses your BASIC language compiler to write a general program, what kind of product will it be?"

How about selling it to customers in form?”

Gates replied without hesitation: "If our BASIC language compiler becomes the standard system software of Universal Electronics personal computers, then programmers only need to send the source program files to customers to complete product delivery."

"Source program?" Gao Xian laughed unabashedly, "Do you think that after the first user gets the source program, how many subsequent users will be willing to pay for it?"

Gates woke up and was immediately speechless.

Gao Xian waved his hand and said: "No matter what, I am more optimistic about your BASIC language compiler. As long as it can be perfected within three months, I will give your company $50,000 in angel investment and let your company

BASIC language compiler, running on every Huanyu Electronics personal computer."

Having said this, Gao Xian glanced at Gates and Allen and said, "You should go and rest first, consider my opinion by the way, and give me a reply as soon as possible before I leave the United States."

Gates and Allen, two "little brats" in their early twenties, slowly came to their senses after leaving the meeting room in a daze.

"Paul, did you hear that, our BASIC language compiler can run on every Universal Electronics personal computer!" Gates said with excitement.

Allen hesitated and said: "But the development time is too tight, and you still have to go to school. Because of this demonstration, you have missed the exam time."

Upon hearing this, Gates scratched his head in distress, "Yes, time is too tight, but this opportunity is fleeting!"

"How about..." Allen tried in an experienced tone: "You would consider dropping out of Harvard University to free up more development time? I would also resign from Honeywell."

After hearing such a radical idea from Allen, a think tank, Gates was not surprised and immediately began to seriously consider it.

I have to say that the friendship between Gates and Allen is indeed deep enough to trust.

However, although Allen's idea did not cause Gates to misunderstand, it still made it difficult for him to make a choice.

To put it bluntly, no matter how well-off the Gates family is, they cannot regard a world-famous Ivy League school like Harvard University as a place where they can just come and leave! How can the peanut stew state university where Allen dropped out of be compared to Harvard University?

Than! The job position at Honeywell that Allen lost may not be as important as a degree from Harvard University!

After all, the young man was just beginning to be aggressive. Gates, who seemed to have made up his mind, suddenly stopped and said to Allen: "Let's go and confirm something with David Gao."

…

Seeing Gates and Allen leaving and coming back in the blink of an eye, Gao Xian knew they were in trouble, so he smiled and asked, "Why, did you decide to give me an answer so quickly?"

Gates looked directly at Gao Xian and asked seriously: "You said you would invest $50,000 in our company. When will it be cashed in?"

"Do you have a formal software development company now?" Gao Xian said playfully: "Tell me your name and I can sign the check right away."

Allen quickly whispered something in Gates' ear, and Gates replied: "I am still studying at Harvard University, but we are preparing to set up a company called 'Micro-soft'. As long as Gao is willing to invest, I will

You can drop out of school and concentrate on running the company and developing software."

Gao Xiancai didn't bother to care about how regretful it was that Gates dropped out of Harvard University, so he signed a check for US$50,000 as soon as he picked up the pen.