Rebirth of the Tech Madman

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On this day, Mike Markkula, chairman of Apple Computer’s board of directors, came to Zheru’s office of the chairman of the board of directors and met with Tang Huan.

In fact, the relationship between the two parties is not as far apart as Apple Computer and Fangyuan Personal Computer. Perhaps it is more appropriate to describe it in a word.

In April 1979, Tang Huan launched the world's first electronic spreadsheet software, making apple-ii the first to become a personal computer with a wide range of practical uses in the commercial field. As a result, the sales of apple-ii skyrocketed and the outlook for Apple Computer's ipo was bright.

It is precisely because of this that Tang Huan, a fledgling Chinese college student, quickly formed a cooperative and mutually-win strategic relationship with Apple Computer.

Next, on the basis of the apple-ii hardware platform, Tang Huan continuously developed hardware products such as display enhancement expansion cards and printing enhancement expansion cards, which improved the hardware platform features of apple-ii and made the new version of Spreadsheet software, as well as word processing software and microcomputer database management systems that were subsequently introduced, can provide richer functions for commercial applications.

Tang Huan created this ecosystem centered on apple-ii. The price of a whole set of products even surpassed the price of apple-ii at that time-$1,200, which made Apple both jealous and jealous. As a result, the relationship between the two parties was further improved-Apple Computer Co., which had begun to plump its wings, and Philosopher Co., Ltd., which were beginning to take shape, mutually held shares. Tang Huan entered the Apple Computer Co. board of directors and enjoyed founder-level treatment, namely, and Steve Jobs , Steve Wozniak, Mike Markkula together, with the help of the Apple computer company ipo, among the billionaires.

There is no doubt that there is a honeymoon period between Tang Huan and Apple Computer, and the rift in their relationship begins with the difference in opinions on the development of personal computers.

After successfully verifying his 8-bit personal computer, the first generation Fangyuan personal computer, in markets outside the United States, Tang Huan launched a new generation model in the US market, the 16-bit second generation Fangyuan personal computer.

Apple Computer suffered a disastrous defeat on Apple-ii’s successor apple-iii, so in order to extend the product life cycle of Apple-ii, Steve Jobs and Mike Markkula made a single effort to make it in the hands of Apple Computer. The shares of Zheru have eaten the apple-ii ecosystem in the hands of Tang Huan.

This move once attracted short-sighted criticism within Apple Computer, but Steve Jobs and Mike Markkula still contributed to the conclusion of the transaction.

After Tang Huan had thrown out all Apple Computer shares in his hands to avoid conflicts of interest, he and Apple Computer would have no relationship.

However, the three founders of Apple Computer-Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Mike Markkula still have shares in Philosopher and maintain a close personal relationship with Tang Huan. .

After that, Tang Huan rose step by step, becoming Tang’s richest man and Tang it, and Apple Computer has gone up and down to this day.

This is the deep relationship between the richest man and Apple Computer, which is talked about by the media. Although it is inevitable that there are intrigues, it is easy to get together without tearing up the face, and then it has become a rare Silicon Valley story.

Among the many unofficially authorized biographies of Tang Huan in recent years, there is a common consensus that Tang Huan’s early entrepreneurial success and Rocket’s general becoming a billionaire benefited from Apple Computer. shallow.

On the other hand, Apple Computer, which used to have trouble with Microsoft and Gates because of the graphical user interface, did not embarrass Tang Huan even during the moody and elusive period when Jobs was in power. Sloppy.

Now Apple Computer is really in trouble. It seems that it does have the capital to eat its roots and get help from the richest man.

What is even less known to the outside world is that there are similar voices in Apple's internal senior management. Apple's board of directors uses its own chairman, Mike Markkula, and Tang Huan’s long-term personal friendship, which is the best one. Proof.

According to the actual situation of each company, the chairman of the board of directors of a commercial company can be divided into two types—the vacant head of state, or the master of real power.

The former only belongs to an honorary position, just like the royal family or "spiritual leader" under the constitutional monarchy, it has an incomparably honorable position, but it is not important and never speaks important words. The main reason is that when the equity is particularly dispersed and the relationship between the major shareholders and the executives is very complicated, he maintains the situation through his high morals-specifically, he not only convenes the board of directors, or even convenes the board of directors upon request. , Without any substantive power.

The latter is the sole control of the company, either through the majority of the shares, or relying on the network resources of the business, or relying on the accumulated entrepreneurial prestige, to have the true power of the company. The board of directors is just its puppet. What is the CEO? The president and general manager must be truly responsible to him, not just in name.

There is no doubt that Tang Huan is one of the most powerful board chairmen in the world, and Mike Markula, a good old man who pays attention to the quality of leisurely family life, is a nominal representative of Apple Computer’s shareholders.

Mike Markkula and Tang Huan are not separated, so after chatting a few gossips, they turn to the main topic: "I am entrusted by the Apple Computer Company's board of directors to formally ask whether Tang still has any problems with Apple Computer. Feeling affectionate and willing to lend a helping hand?"

"Play the emotional card as soon as you come up!" After this thought flashed in his mind, the richest man smiled gently: "You don't know, I am a very nostalgic person-but this help depends on the specific content. Yeah, at what level?"

Mike Markkula, who was secretly relieved, said frankly: "Apple Computer is willing to accept Tang's acquisition."

Tang Huan picked up the teacup and took a sip. He was speechless for a while, as if he was weighing the pros and cons.

Seeing this, Mike Markkula tentatively said: "Of course, I know that after Tang has built the Fangyuan personal computer by himself and has become the industry's mainstream standard, he will not look down on other personal computers. But Apple Computers still have very good value. For example, as a friendly supplement to Fangyuan PCs in the market-as long as this situation can be maintained, Fangyuan PCs will not be ganged up by peers like Philosophy Software. Group attack it."

Tang Huan smiled and said: "Since you have said so, how can I buy Apple Computer."

Mike Markkula laughed awkwardly: "But you won't deny the value and significance of Apple Computer."

Tang Huan pondered and asked, "I think Apple Computer must have never given up on self-help, right?"

"It's true." Mike Markkula nodded, "Introducing new products that are sufficiently attractive to users has almost become the only alternative means of self-help, but time is too late. It is so vital to save lives. The project, however, stagnated at the level of the operating system-the supporting operating system continued to introduce new features during the development process. As a result, the internal test version was extremely unstable, to the point where it was impossible not to give up."

Seeing Tang Huan holding a tea cup waiting for himself to speak, Mike Markkula had to continue to expose his family ugliness and explained in detail: "In order to catch up with the progress of the project, CEO Gil Amelio tried to introduce an ideal from outside Apple Computer. Operating system."

"For example, Jean-Louis Gassy, ​​the former head of product development at Apple Computer, led some Apple Computer employees who followed him. The company be founded in 1991 and developed a new operating system called beos..."

Mike Markkula showed a sad look on his face, "But the problem is that this guy, Garcia, is very familiar with the situation of Apple Computer, and believes that this is the golden time for Apple Computer. The Lion is asking for 400 million yuan. U.S. dollars, and Apple’s assessment of be company’s total value will not exceed 80 million U.S. dollars, so the counter-offer is 120 million U.S. dollars—but West Canada still refuses to make concessions.

"Apple Computer Company won't really have nowhere to hang on the tree of beos?" Tang Huan joked, "Just like Michael Spindler, the former CEO of Apple Computer, didn't he ever tried to promote Apple. Is the computer company's merger with ibm, sun, and Philips?"

Mike Markkula hesitated imperceptibly, and then replied: "You are right-there is another contact, which is the operating system of the next company created by Steve-nextstep."

Tang Huan asked playfully, "What then?"

Mike Markkula sighed, "I admit that when Steve left Apple Computer, everyone had a very unpleasant noise-after so many years, he and I, who used to be like father and son, although both were in Silicon Valley, But never met head-on."

"Apple Computer Company is now, John Sculley, who had been in direct conflict, and Jean-Louis Garcy, who had secretly informed, have left, and only me who refused to support him at the time is left."

"But to be honest, I have no resistance to Apple Computer's possible cooperation with Steve's next company."

"The real problem is that the board members of Apple Computer are skeptical of Steve. After all, he was too immature at the beginning-perhaps, it is much better now, but the performance of the next company since its establishment is not to be discussed. How great is it."

Tang Huan did not comment on these entanglements, but pointed to the core of the problem: "How about the quality of Nextstep's operating system and the conditions set by Steve?"

"Steve’s conditions are indeed more reasonable than Gassy, ​​and the quality of Nextstep is also good." Mike Markkula replied realistically: "But the board of directors feels that Nextstep’s operating system uses a lot of philosophical technology. ——In this case, why don’t we go one step further and get better operating system solutions directly from Zheru?"

"From this expansion, why doesn't Apple Computer go beyond Jobs, who still has a knot, and seek cooperation with Tang, who has a deeper connection?"

"The reason why the previous CEO Michael Spindler was relieved of his position was replaced by Jill Amelio. In addition to the unsatisfactory business performance of the company, he also advocated the cooperation between Apple Computer and ibm and sun. , Philips’ merger and acquisition really disappointed the board of directors."

Tang Huan personally refilled Mike Markkula’s tea cup, and reminded him earnestly: “Old friend, have you ever thought that if Apple asks me for help, a power structure change will inevitably follow. The position of chairman of the board of directors may also be lost."

Mike Markkula confided in his stance and said: "Tang, I always agree with you, and I believe you must know me-me, now there is really no ambition. In my life, I have made the most correct investment three times by chance. I have successively acquired shares of Intel, Apple, and Zheru, and have earned enough wealth to enjoy life ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ Contentment! As for the chairman of the board of directors of Apple Computer, it is just that everyone thinks it is appropriate for me to take this free position. "

Tang Huan nodded and waved his hand: "Although everyone is in Cupertino, it can be said to be close at hand, but I really don't know the specific situation of Apple Computer. If conditions permit, you can arrange for me. Would you like to take a look?"

Mike Markkula, who couldn't hide his joy on his face, lifted his spirits and said: "It's a great pleasure! It's a great honor!"

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Just as people were enjoying the benefits of a wide range of PC price reductions, the media broke out an extraordinary blockbuster news-Apple Computer, which has reached the brink of bankruptcy, has just ushered in the visit of the richest man Tang.

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Could it be that the rumors of Tang it's acquisition of Apple Computer are not just a mere whisper?

It seems that in the field of personal computers, there must be another brand, stamped with Tang's seal.

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In the midst of the discussion, the spokesperson of Tang Huan’s office officially announced the news that Tang purchased 200 million US dollars of non-voting shares in Apple Computer in his own name.

Seeing this scenario, industry observers suddenly lost their heads—not to mention the acquisition of Apple Computer, it seems that they do not even control Apple Computer. Is it true that the richest man Tang really threw out two billion yuan to Apple? Is the computer company rescued?

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No one knows what Tang Huan thinks.

In fact, it’s easy to say-in the case of the richest man, Google, which has emerged a few years later in time and space, and the reborn Apple... Wait, there is really no need to reappear, but now Apple Computer, It's a good spare tire for spreading risks, and these actions on the bright side are just to cover people's eyes and ears.