Chapter 466： The contradiction between Gates and Ballmer

"Jason, tonight at Staples Center, Steve Ballmer asked us to watch the Clippers vs. Nets regular game tonight."

After coming out of New Era Pictures, Yang Cheng received a call from Conrad Koch who had just arrived in Los Angeles.

did not go to the car while holding his phone, but went to a coffee shop on the roadside to buy a cup of iced coffee, "What a coincidence?"

"Well~ I just want to introduce you to him. By the way, I will talk to him about trading Paul." Konrad Koch should be still at the airport, and the sound of the plane taking off came over clearly.

"I see, do you think there is a play? I heard that Ballmer is very stubborn." Yang Cheng took a sip of coffee and hesitated.

Konrad Koch thought for a while, but was afraid to give an affirmative answer, "It's hard to tell, but after all, you have to talk about it, but tonight, don't talk to Bill in front of him. They made trouble last year. Turned over, the two are incompatible with each other. Of course, if you are not afraid of the news being spread out and scold Bill, I think Ballmer must regard you as a confidant. Don’t talk about Paul at that time. The Clippers will follow you. pick."

Although this sentence is more of a joke, it cannot be denied its feasibility.

Yang Cheng has also heard relevant gossip. The golden partner of Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer broke up last year when they parted ways. How could he not know.

Rumor has it that there have been personal conflicts between Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer for more than ten years because of the transfer of power. Last year, the fuse was completely ignited because of Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia and Ballmer’s resignation as CEO. , The two gunpowder barrels exploded in an instant, and the two of them had reached the point of not talking to each other, and even the basic nodding of their heads when they met each other, it was obvious how deep the rift between them was.

Yang Cheng drank the ice coffee comfortably, blowing in the gentle spring breeze. The spring breeze did not disturb the peach blossoms, but it ignited his gossiping heart, "Quickly tell, why are these two people making such a fuss? I listen There are many rumors, but they are not very reliable."

Konrad Koch is actually quite familiar with both of them. Relatively speaking, Steve Ballmer is closer to each other. Of course, it is only comparatively speaking. However, in this matter, he still has something Understood, narrated with a reminiscence, "In fact, the contradiction between Gates and Ballmer has a long history. As early as the 21st century, that is, around 2000, Ballmer succeeded Gates. Serve as CEO of Microsoft.

At that time, Ballmer felt that Gates was still intervening in Microsoft's management affairs. He did not seem to have complete control of Microsoft. This was the source of the contradiction. "

He breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "However, due to professional ethics, the two are also focused on work. The relationship in private is good. This relationship has been maintained until 2008, when Gates announced that he would leave Microsoft completely. Ballmer was Truly became the head of Microsoft.

You also know that Gates and Ballmer are both strong personalities. When the hidden dangers were not revealed before, the two of them had tolerated each other and compromised each other. Everything prioritized the company's interests. Until this time, it caused controversy. The decision to acquire Nokia’s mobile phone business was due to a major issue related to Microsoft’s future strategy. The two held their own opinions, and neither of them would give in. They both believed that their decision was right, so they completely broke off friendship. "

Yang Cheng wondered, "Isn't Microsoft always looking for a strategy of landing the terminal? It stands to reason that the acquisition of Nokia will help Microsoft a lot. Will Bill not lose sight of this?"

Konrad Koch did not answer directly, "Listen to me. In the face of the passive situation of Microsoft entering the era of mobile Internet, Ballmer made the decision to transform Microsoft. He announced the'equipment and service' strategy and decided Following Apple's integration of software and hardware and corresponding to Apple's mobile phone business, Ballmer advocated the acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone business.

However, this decision caused a huge storm within the Microsoft board of directors and was met with fierce opposition. The opponents included Bill Gates, who had worked with Ball tacitly for more than ten years, and Gates’ move, Let Ballmer feel betrayed. "

Konrad Koch opened the chatterbox, got in the car and continued, “Ballmer is naturally very dissatisfied with the board’s not supporting the acquisition of Nokia, but in the end one of the spear and the shield is bound to compromise. A compromise was reached, and the board of directors supported the acquisition. As a price, Ballmer agreed to resign as CEO the following year. In fact, before that, Wall Street, which had been influencing Microsoft for many years, had been asking Ballmer to step down and let other capable people. Manage, to reform Microsoft.

The contradiction between Gates and Ballmer is not only this time. In the past, Ballmer was very dissatisfied with the Vista operating system development project led by Gates. He believed that Microsoft had put too much energy on the operating system, which would baffle the mobile phone business.

I talked to Ballmer about this topic. He said that his worst job was from 2001 to 2004. Microsoft paid the price for the bad job. Gates stubbornly invested the best team in the company and excessive resources. On Longhorn, instead of mobile phones and browsers, he once thought this was a precursor to Microsoft's self-defeating. "

Yang Cheng sighed. It turned out that the two giants of Microsoft had such a rugged experience. After a moment of aftertaste, he said with emotion, "Now the Microsoft CEO is Nadella. He has completely abandoned Ballmer's imitation of Apple. The strategy of "equipment and service" has turned to the strategy of "efficiency and platform, mobile first, cloud first".

Nadella believes that Microsoft's software and Internet services should be provided to all hardware and all operating systems in the form of'cloud services', rather than Apple's self-enclosed software and hardware integration. To be honest, at least from what you said Judging from the situation, I was standing by Steve Ballmer. "

Konrad Koch chuckled, "You keep these words to Ballmer tonight. I think he will be very happy. Since he quit Microsoft, he has been criticized by countless people. Wrongly, the acquisition of the Clippers last year seems to be to prove his talent to the world. He hasn't grown old yet, and he is still shining in another field."

Yang Cheng shrugged, "Anyway, he has not completely sold Microsoft stocks. From this point of view, he is still very realistic. He is still enjoying the dividends Microsoft brings him, and cannot completely give up. Based on this matter, considering the situation alone, he is not even a bit behind Bill."

"Haha, I remind you Jason, if you still want to trade Chris Paul, don't mention the name Bill Gates in front of Ballmer tonight. You are right. He is not only realistic, but also stingy. He is very careful, and if he doesn't follow his intentions, he will be remembered for a lifetime." Konrad Koch has no consciousness of speaking badly about his friends behind his back, and it is cruel to tease.

Yang Cheng gulped the iced coffee, threw it into the trash can on the street, opened the butterfly door of Rafa, bent over to get into the car, and started the car, then joked, "I am not stupid, if you don't Don’t worry, I’ll go and learn how to flatter with my men, so that Ballmer will be willing to send Chris Paul to our hands."

"That's not necessary, all right. See you at Staples Center tonight. I won't invite you to dinner. Ballmer has already arranged it."

"OK, see you tonight, yes, will you go to the box or in the front row?" Yang Cheng gently stepped on the accelerator under his feet, held the steering wheel with one hand, and asked on the phone.

"It should be the front row, right? Ballmer is not a low-key master, but I will let you know after I confirm with him."

"Okay, that's it, not to mention it, I'm driving."

. . .

There is still more than a long time before the start of the evening ball game, Yang Cheng has nothing to do, just go home and lie down by the pool looking at the sky.

The sky in Los Angeles is still blue and pure, the wind is light, the clouds are light, and the birds and flowers are scented. This is a kind of peace that is difficult to experience in New York. When people are in New York, it seems that the air is filled with impetuous factors. After people breathe, I also move unconsciously, always thinking that I want to make more money, I want to drive a sports car, I want to make the most beautiful girl, and I rarely have the opportunity to calm down and experience life.

Looking at the skyline Yang Cheng yawned comfortably, his eyelids gradually became heavy, but unfortunately, when he was about to sleep, the sound of footsteps behind him disrupted his sleepiness.

"White, what's the matter?" White's steady and rhythmic footsteps were already familiar to Yang Cheng, so he asked aloud before anyone arrived.

"The gardener is preparing to weed, for fear that the noise will make you rest." White said respectfully, standing aside.

"Oh, don't mind me, busy with their work, give me a glass of juice and let me cool down." Yang Cheng waved his hand, he is not a harsh landlord.

"Yes~"

It didn't take long for the hum of the lawnmower to roar. Fortunately, the work location was in the front courtyard, and it reached Yang Cheng. The sound disappeared a lot, and it was within the tolerance range.

White sent juice and continued to supervise the servants. The huge manor, the work was complicated and monotonous, and repeated every day, but no one dared to be careless. Yang Cheng was all these hard-working servants while enjoying the perfect quality of life. It was realized with the joint efforts of White, who was almost perfectionist.

Drowsiness came and went quickly. He drank a mouthful of freshly squeezed juice, and the refreshing and sweet taste echoed in his mouth. Now he completely lost his sleepiness. He took out his mobile phone and prepared to call Xu Ling more. He didn’t know who had signed with Ari Pictures. How are things going?

"Hey~" Xu Lingyue's voice sounded flat, but it was inexplicably embarrassing.

Yang Cheng scratched his head, not knowing how to start the topic, so he could only reply bluntly, "Hey~ it's me"

"I know~" Xu Ling said coldly.

"Uh~" Now, Yang Cheng is stumped, you know it's me? and then?