Reborn since 1993

Chapter 524: Escape
How to make a gambler, no, a fish sink deeper and deeper, that is of course to bait the bait, let the opponent taste the sweetness first, so that he can sink deeper and deeper, and finally fall into the ditch step by step.

Whether the three major cooperation projects proposed by Li Dongling and Dongling Hi-Tech to Microsoft can succeed, Bill Gates and Microsoft probably have no idea.

Moreover, these projects, including computer projects, game console projects, and Internet set-top box projects, all require large R&D expenses and involve great risks.

If we do it without any proof, Microsoft will probably be hesitant when it comes to spending money. The most important thing is that it cannot be realized directly. Who knows whether these projects can succeed and when they can be completed!

But what if, before doing these three major projects, they first do a smaller project to test the waters? If it succeeds, then... wouldn't Microsoft rush forward, and wouldn't its stock price soar like it took drugs? Would there still be worries at that time?

To put it bluntly, the digital stargazing video equipment proposed by Li Dongling is intended to steal the business from TV stations.

This device is equivalent to the "screen recording" function on future computers, which "records" the program content played on the TV and allows users to watch it when they have time.

It’s just that now we use hardware devices to complete screen recording. In the past, this kind of equipment had very few sales in China, so it was not well-known.

But it is very popular overseas, especially in America, and has millions of users in a few years. This is only in America. It is also very popular in Canada, old Europe and other places.

Later, these devices even added the function of skipping commercials, which led to countless American families buying these devices specifically to skip commercials and watch TV programs, and the sales were quite hot.

This kind of equipment is actually competing with TV stations, DVD discs, and Hollywood giants for business.

Because it can record programs, TV stations can no longer make money from rerunning TV dramas, and it can also skip advertisements, allowing TV stations to earn less advertising fees.

In addition, it can also record DVD discs, which greatly increases the probability of pirated videos appearing.

TiVo, a company that produced digital video recording equipment in its previous life, had many lawsuits with major TV stations, DVD disc manufacturers, and the six major Hollywood film companies.

Li Dongling didn't plan to play around with the TV digital video recording equipment for too long. It would be enough for him to just use it to make a living. If the first batch of sales could meet expectations, it would make Microsoft believe that the several major projects proposed by Li Dongling were all hopeful of being accomplished. That would be enough!
After that, they turned around and sold off this business. Wouldn't it be more attractive to make Internet set-top boxes? The technology of digital video recording equipment will be eliminated sooner or later, and they will have to sue the TV station. What's the point? It would be better to create momentum and then sell it off.

It is true that this business can make money, but for Dongling Hi-Tech, it is not worth it as it is entangled in lawsuits. However, for other companies, as long as they are brave enough and hire lawyers to fight with TV stations and film companies, and take over this business and sell digital video recording equipment, they can definitely make money!
When Bill Gates heard that Li Dongling was testing the waters with the stargazing digital video equipment, he couldn't help but feel tempted.

After exchanging a glance with Ed Fries, both of them were somewhat tempted. Indeed, if the digital video recording equipment could be successful, it would be equivalent to a successful test, and Microsoft would be able to let go and do a big job.

"Microsoft is willing to support digital video equipment for stargazing!"

Bill Gates said, "Microsoft is willing to invest $40 million in StarGuide to develop digital video equipment in exchange for % of StarGuide's equity, and will continue to invest in StarGuide's new projects in the future."

It's just a few million dollars. For Microsoft, it's no different from playing. If you win, you'll make a lot of money. If you lose, it's just a few million dollars. For Microsoft, this amount of money is really nothing.

Li Dongling thought about it for a moment, nodded, and agreed to Bill Gates' investment. America will be an important market for the digital video equipment for stargazing and the Internet set-top box project.

With Microsoft as its backer, no one in America would dare to have any evil thoughts about stargazing, including the bosses on Capitol Hill and even those in the President's Office. They would have to think carefully about what would happen if they offended Microsoft.

You don't really think that just because HP dares to hire people to ride homemade planes, Microsoft can't create a driver who has cancer and is drunk and drives a cement truck recklessly on the road. If Microsoft is pushed to the limit, they can still shoot someone in the back six times and then file a suicide report!

Another point is that the Internet set-top box requires all large and small TV stations in America to authorize Stargazing to open their TV channels. There are also charging issues, etc. In this regard, Microsoft's intervention will be much more useful than Dongling Hi-Tech's intervention!

As long as they take over the American Internet set-top box market, they will basically have the market share in Canada, old Europe and other places. By then, Stargazing will not only be back, but will also be dozens or even hundreds of times stronger than when it first debuted!
"Microsoft needs to launch an operating system suitable for Dongxin as soon as possible. Dongxin Semiconductor's computer chips will be taped out this year. Once successful, mass production will officially begin!"

Li Dongling also told Bill Gates that Microsoft should fulfill its promise as soon as possible.

"As long as the Microsoft board of directors agrees to cooperate with Dongling Hi-Tech, I will immediately ask the system department to form a team to transplant the Microsoft system to Dongxin's MIPS architecture chip. There is no need to worry about this!"

Bill Gates is quite confident about this. Although Microsoft has not been well accepted in the hardware market and has made many disappointing operations, it has rarely failed in software.

Afterwards, Li Dongling and Bill Gates agreed on the details of the cooperation between the two parties. Basically, the hardware work would be completed by Dongling Hi-Tech, and the software involved, such as the system and software of the stargazing digital video equipment, would be completed by Microsoft.

When Microsoft launches computers and game consoles in the future, Dongling Hi-Tech will provide components and be responsible for assembly and production, etc. This is equivalent to the start of comprehensive cooperation between the two sides. Dongling Hi-Tech will become Microsoft's largest supplier in the hardware field!
They came and went in a hurry. After Bill Gates reached an agreement with Li Dongling, he returned to Seattle on a private plane with the agreement signed with Li Dongling's name. As long as the next Microsoft board meeting passed, the agreement would officially take effect.

As for whether this agreement will be blocked by Microsoft's board of directors, that is not a problem that Li Dongling needs to worry about. If Bill Gates can't even push forward this agreement, then he really should hold a bloodbath within Microsoft.

After reaching the agreement with Bill Gates, Li Dongling breathed a sigh of relief. The goals of this trip to America have basically been achieved. He only needs to wait for Microsoft to make an announcement. After attending Yahoo's listing celebration dinner, Li Dongling will basically set off to return to China.

This trip has been going on for quite a while. When he first came to America, it was still the first half of the year. Now it is the middle of the year, and there is a backlog of things at the Dongling Hi-Tech headquarters, waiting for Li Dongling to deal with them.

……

Seattle, a Microsoft town, Microsoft's status in Seattle is like that of Dongling Hi-Tech in Pingyang. Of course, Seattle is strong and there are other giant companies in the city that are not as dependent on Microsoft, but Microsoft also has an amazing influence in this city.

Today's meeting in Microsoft's executive conference room was held somewhat suddenly. When the Microsoft directors and executives who attended the meeting arrived, they all had confused looks on their faces. It was obvious that they had not received any news in advance.

If Li Dongling and Larson were here, they would find that there were several familiar faces among these executives, including Microsoft's public relations head Grant, legal head Jon, and Panos, head of Microsoft's hardware department, who was sitting in the corner of the conference room.

These people had dealt with Dongling Hi-Tech a few years ago. Among them, Panos had to thank Dongling Hi-Tech. Without Dongling Hi-Tech, his predecessor Spencer would not have been kicked out, and how could he take over?

After the lawsuit was settled that year, Spencer, who was then the head of Microsoft's hardware department, was used as a scapegoat and was directly fired by Microsoft. Panos then became the head of Microsoft's hardware department.

However, Microsoft's hardware department has also become somewhat sluggish, and its status within Microsoft has declined significantly, and it has become somewhat marginalized.

Panos sat bored in the corner of the conference room. Other Microsoft bosses like Ballmer had not heard about Bill Gates holding this meeting, let alone him. Panos also didn't think that this meeting had anything to do with him.

However, when the ambitious Bill Gates, Ed Fleiss and others came to the conference room, his first words made Panos stunned. He was very familiar with the name Dongling Hi-Tech. After all, his predecessor was kicked out because of Dongling Hi-Tech.

Now Microsoft is going to fully cooperate with Dongling Hi-Tech, and even launch a matching operating system version for the chip company under Dongling Hi-Tech. This makes Panos feel absurd. The former rivals are actually going to start cooperating?

Afterwards, several project collaborations proposed by Bill Gates caused constant exclamations in the conference room. Even Panos couldn't help but clench his fists. Microsoft was going to cooperate with Dongling Hi-Tech on computer projects. Wasn't the spring of his hardware department coming?
As long as the computer brand is launched, the status of Panos' hardware department in Microsoft will be directly upgraded by more than ten levels!

"The living room strategy will be Microsoft's main goal for the next decade, and it will also be Microsoft's Normandy landing in the hardware industry. We can only succeed and not fail!
This year and next year, Microsoft will jointly launch digital video recording equipment for stargazing with Dongling Hi-Tech. If this project is successful, Microsoft will fully implement three major hardware projects: computer projects, game console projects, and Internet set-top boxes. No one can stop Microsoft's pace in hardware, no one!"

Bill Gates pumped his fist and announced Microsoft's ambitious plans in the hardware industry.

In the conference room, after a few seconds of silence, there was a burst of loud applause. As for the Intel Alliance, screw Intel! At this moment, even the Microsoft executives who were biased towards Intel did not dare to openly act as traitors and say that Microsoft would not be allowed to play with hardware!
(End of this chapter)