Rebirth of the Tech Madman

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A major sign of the rift between Tang Huan and Yihe was the fierce competition between the two sides in early 1982 for the land where the current Exchange Square is located.

At that time, on the eve of the burst of the Hong Kong property bubble, land prices were at a peak.

The Exchange Square has a land area of ​​144,000 square feet, or about 13,000 square meters. In the end, Yihe, who won, paid a cost of nearly HK$5 billion. Although it won the face, it also planted the bane. Tang Huan was successfully bled and carried a big burden on his back.

Of course, after Qinhe ate Jardine, these burdens were also passed on to Tang Huan, but he didn't care; in order to show his strength, he successively invested 8 billion Hong Kong dollars to quickly build the now prestigious trading square-Xiangjiang United The location of the stock exchange.

In contrast, the Bank of China Tower, also located in the heart of the Hong Kong business district-the Central District of Hong Kong Island, is about half the size of the Exchange Square at 6,700 square meters. However, in the latter few months of 1982, the real estate bubble was still there. Before the break, the Hong Kong government sold only HK$1.1 billion to the Bank of China, which is a little more than a quarter of the transaction price on the Exchange Square.

This transaction, which may be affected by political factors, naturally attracted great attention from the outside world. After people talked about it, they also began to calmly think about the actual value of Heung Kong Real Estate, which led to the exposure of the Carrian Group's scam. It caused the collapse of the Xiangjiang real estate industry to some extent.

It is completely conceivable that the Bank of China, which originally planned to build a brand new headquarters, increasingly needs to show a distinctive architectural style to suppress external noise.

It’s just that the Bank of China at this time cannot compare to HSBC’s $1 billion fortune for the new headquarters, and it does not have the gold fingers of Tang Huan to make extra money. In order to raise construction funds, the start date was delayed and delayed, in 1988. The auspicious completion time on August 8 will definitely not be in time.

It is necessary to point out that, in addition to financial factors, the construction of the Bank of China Tower is also troubled by the prevailing Feng Shui in Hong Kong. The unique shape of the Bank of China Tower is described as a knife. "What it refers to will be adversely affected."

The reason why Tang Huan stopped the topic that almost blurted out was because he suddenly felt that after keeping the historical trajectory unaffected, he might be able to take this from another angle to further combat HSBC's superstition in the hearts of Hong Kong people.

Pei didn't doubt that he was there. After nodding his head with conviction, he turned around and said, "The design you entrusted to me is almost complete. Let's take a look at it some time."

Tang Huan wanted to build a landmark in the capital Baixiang of Funan and the port of Hanouk in the special zone to demonstrate his local authority. One of the designs was given to Pei, who designed the Yanjing Xiangshan Hotel for mainland China and the The Bank of China Tower designed by HeungKong is widely acclaimed for its excellent combination of Chinese and Western styles. Of course, the richest man also appreciates it.

"Okay, I'll go take a look at that time." Tang Huan happily agreed.

At this time, Wang An, with a sickly face, walked over with the support of his son Wang Lie.

Tang Huan quickly got up to greet him and greeted with concern: "I heard that Mr. Wang is ill. Then you don't have to rush to the party from the east coast, just send a representative."

"It doesn't matter, I just plan to visit Silicon Valley." Wang An waved his hand.

In fact, Wang An is a few years younger than Pei, who is 70 years old this year, but his health is not as good as the latter. It is a pity that he was diagnosed with cancer.

Prior to this, the main product of Wangan Computer Company was an electronic word processor, which was unmatched even by ibm's similar products. However, the back wave of the Yangtze River pushed the front wave. The combination of personal computers and word processing software provided more and more powerful and flexible functions. In the past two years, it has completely dominated the market and the era of Wangan Computer Company is basically over.

Fortunately, although Lao Wang An was stubborn and even fought against Tang Huan Xiaodi, he still had a technical vision. He realized that the great changes in the computer industry were overwhelming, so by summing up Tang Huan’s successful experience, he started to develop Transformation of the computer field.

In addition to electronic word processors, the product line of Wangan Computer Company is also good for minicomputers. Relying on this foundation, Wang An did not directly enter the extremely competitive personal computer market, but aimed at a higher-level product in the system-workstations.

Tang Huan, who wanted to bring Wangan Computer Company into his camp, had no objection. After all, being a friend must pay attention to keeping a proper distance. Wang Anna is an old world in the computer industry for decades. Naturally, he has his own judgment. He doesn't need to be careful and disgusting.

What's more, in Tang Huan's view, Wang An's decision is actually very smart, and Wang An Computer Company's foundation is quite solid. It does have the ability to directly target the workstation market with greater profit margins.

After getting the Fangyuan computer standard from Tang Huan and joining the camp, Wang An Computer Company began to concentrate on researching and developing its own workstation products at its headquarters in Boston.

Because in the decades when ibm ruled the computer industry, Wang An has developed a habit of completely controlling the elements of the company, power, products, etc., so the transformation of the entire company with a deep impression is not so easy. Workstation development is not as smooth as expected.

Since Tang Huan said frankly from the beginning that the high-end models of his risc microprocessor holder were in short supply, he could only sell low-end and mid-range models. Wang An chose the most powerful cisc microprocessor from the wide variety of cisc microprocessors on the market. The powerful Motorola mc68000 series is used as the CPU of Wang'an workstation. The other parts are basically designed and made by ourselves.

This shows that Wang An's independent business philosophy is quite deep-rooted.

Tang Huan, who did the same himself, could understand Wang An's so strong, and felt that the other party could be famous, so he no longer entangled in details and paid little attention.

Moreover, compared with the rapidly changing personal computer market, the ecological environment of the workstation market is much more stable. As long as his Fangyuan workstation has an absolute advantage in this field, Tang Huan will not waste energy to interfere with the full play of his subordinates.

Therefore, while Wang An went to rest, his son Wang Lie tactfully stated that after his Wang An workstation was in a dilemma in the market, Tang Huan was quite surprised.

"We and Apollo Computer Company, also located in Massachusetts, became mortal enemies in the market competition. As a result, we lost both sides and was exploited by Sun Microsystems. Now it is the third largest workstation manufacturer under the radius and dec. "Wang Lie smiled bitterly," I heard a news that Hewlett-Packard in Silicon Valley is very interested in Apollo Computers and plans to acquire it to strengthen its strength in the field of workstations.

Tang Huan raised his brows and asked with some doubts, "Compared to Sun Microsystems, you are definitely an established company. You can't do it?"

"The workstation products of Sun Microsystems are extremely impactful in price. They even launched products with a price as low as US$25,000." Wang Lie replied helplessly, "In the end, Sun Microsystems and The models of Wangan Computer and Apollo Computer are different. They adopt an open mechanism that is closer to the field of personal computers, including the direct use of ready-made technology of Fangyuan Computer Standards, which in turn leads to faster product updates and lower prices. Low, it has dug away many customers."

Seeing that Tang Huan was silent for a while, Wang Lie had no choice but to continue to add: "If HP acquires Apollo Computers, then Wangan Computers will fall into an embarrassing situation of entanglement with HP and ibm, which ranks low in the workstation market share."

"It seems that Wang Lie is scared." Tang Huan, who was very clear in his heart, muttered to himself and asked directly: "What is Mr. Wang's opinion on this?"

"My father is still prepared to rely on the company's own strength to make technological breakthroughs; but I think that since the Fangyuan computer standard has been followed, it should be like a personal computer, using public technology and supply chain as much as possible to reduce costs. "Wang Lie, who was already taking over from his father's class, finally showed his attitude. "Over the years, Wang An Computer Company has accumulated considerable in all aspects. This time I come to San Francisco, I want to let Wang An Computer The company and Fangyuan Computer Co. have established a closer capital connection, which allows them to obtain higher-level technology and supply of key components."

Although he valued the brand of Wangan Computer very much, Tang Huan did not want to get involved in the internal disagreements of the other party and cause some misunderstandings from the outside world, so he waved his hand and said: "I am afraid Mr. Wang doesn't like this, and it is unfair to Sun Microsystems. After all, the relationship between me and the partners in the Fangyuan standard camp has always been at the technical level, and we will not support or attack anyone."

"I am afraid that the idea of ​​Sun Microsystems is not that simple. For example, they once launched a network file system and disclosed its source code so that more people can adopt it. Recently, Sun Microsystems has successfully developed A kind of risc microprocessor. Such signs indicate that this company is likely to want to establish a set of standards under its control." Wang Lie began to count the various "great injustices" of Sun Microsystems.

When Sun Microsystems was founded to raise funds from various sources, Tang Huan invested a sum of money to expand its standard camp of Fangyuan computer.

But in the fall of 1984, Sun Microsystems had a coup. One of the four co-founders, the first CEO and chairman of the board of directors, and Indian-born Vinod Kosla, was driven by venture capital. Gone, another founder, Scott McCliny, is in full control.

This incident is actually quite ironic. Vinod Kosla, who had fallen out with venture capital, left Sun Microsystems and moved into the venture capital industry, and he is doing well.

The essence of this coup reflects the conflict between some venture capitalists, including Don Valentine, and Tang Huan, a hunter who picks one out and grabs many high-quality projects.

However, after the coup, Sun Microsystems did not leave the Fangyuan standard camp, and Tang Huan did not intend to go to war. After all, his overall layout has been completed. Not much care.

Therefore, although Tang Huan was a little surprised by the new information provided by Wang Lie, it was not surprising.

In the end, he just said calmly: "I will pay attention to the possible changes of Sun Microsystems. On your side, it is better to reach a consensus with Mr. Wang."

...

After hosting the Hundreds Meeting, Tang Huan began to pay special attention to the development of the workstation market. It belongs to a brand new field, which emerged in the 1980s with the vigorous development of personal computers. Its direct competitors are traditional minicomputers.

At this stage, Fangyuan Workstation is the dominant player in this market, occupying more than half of the market share.

The next-ranked dec is the big man in the field of minicomputers. Its technical sense is quite sensitive. When it was discovered that certain advantages of workstations could not be achieved by traditional minicomputers, it decisively joined the ranks of workstation manufacturers.

The third place is Sun Microsystems, which quickly jumped up. A major feature of its products is that they are cheap. They can often be 5,000 US dollars lower than Apollo computers ~ www.NovelMTL.com ~ and even launched a 25,000 US dollars workstation, which is considered to be this field The rule challenger, its sales in 1986 approached 200 million U.S. dollars. ⑧☆miào⑧☆bi(.*)gé⑧☆.＄.

Further down is Wang An Computer and Apollo Computer, which tragically fought both sides, as well as IBM and Hewlett-Packard, as well as small companies with relatively alternative technology solutions such as Prime.

The entire echelon. The level is clear, and the position of Fangyuan Workstation is high. Even ibm and Hewlett-Packard have to be younger brothers in this new field, but with the prosperity of this market, the competition is obviously getting more and more fierce.

Tang Huan put down the file and frowned. Geyin realized that behind the squandering and glamorous workstation products fighting each other, there is hidden the competition of the upcoming risc microprocessor.

The reason why Fangyuan Workstation has become the overlord is that it has a powerful core-holder. Especially with the continuous improvement of manufacturing technology, the performance of this risc microprocessor family is often higher than that of Motorola's '6' microprocessor. The exponential level of cisc microprocessors, including the processor family and Intel’s "8" microprocessor family.

The holder microprocessor, the Vientiane operating system, and the 19-inch Sony OEM Trinitron monitor have become the main symbols of Fangyuan Workstation, and countless professionals yearn for this dream configuration.

In contrast, dec workstations use another kind of risc microprocessor-mips; ibm and HP also have their own risc technology, but it is not commercially successful.

Now, Sun Microsystems, a newcomer, has also joined the risc camp and successfully launched sparc, which shows that the industry is paying more and more attention to risc.