Silicon Valley

On February 10, it was raining lightly in Cupertino, California, USA, and a Ford car from Vienna, Virginia was parked outside Apple's headquarters!

Apple's ceo office.

John Scully is discussing matters with two guests who are none other than Sequoia Capital Executive Director Ford Brook and AOL CEO Steve Case!

Sequoia Capital is Apple's angel investor, and when Apple first sought investment, it was Sequoia Capital who helped! Sequoia Capital invested in Apple and earned dozens of times. Although it sold a lot of shares, it still holds 10% of the shares and has a certain right to speak on Apple's board of directors!

This time by Sequoia Capital, AOL and Apple work together!

"There has been a lot of trouble between AOL and Netscape, Scully, you must know our intentions!" Ford Brook said straight to the point, "Look at how high the market value of Netscape is! Are you Apple Inc.? Not excited?"

After speaking, Ford Brook laughed confidently. He never believed that Scully would not be unmoved by the fat meat of the browser. Immediately, Ford said: "Scully, AOL has dug the original team of Netscape browser development team, I believe there will be a new 'Netscape' soon! But AOL hopes to get Apple's help!"

"How do you want us to help AOL?" Scully smiled and asked unhurriedly.

Ford Brook said, "Put AOL's browser on your Apple desktop!"

"But what good will it do for us at Apple?" Scully said slyly, putting on a show, "You know, the Netscape browser is already very popular among netizens, if our Apple computers don't have Netscape browser installed. It will definitely affect the sales of our computers!”

Steve Case didn't say anything when he came to Apple. It was Ford Brook who said it, but until this critical moment, he suddenly said: "10% of the browser's shares!!!"

Scully looked at Steve Case, pondered for a moment, and said, "20%!!!"

"Deal!!!" Steve Case didn't seem to think about it, and made a very decisive decision.

At this time, Ford Brook was in a hurry. Sequoia Capital held more shares in AOL than in Apple. The more browser shares Steve Case gave Apple, Sequoia Capital The more you lose. He gestured to Steve Case with his eyes, telling him to stop messing around and give Apple so many shares! !

Steve Case has made the final decision!

If you want to break the monopoly position of Netscape browser, it is too difficult for AOL alone, AOL has to win over more allies!

Among them, Apple is the best choice for AOL!

Apple is one of the top companies in the personal computer industry today and has a huge influence in the industry! If Apple takes the lead in installing AOL's browser, it will greatly increase the momentum of AOL's browser, so that the browser can be launched more smoothly! !

Seeing Steve so decisive, Scully couldn't help being taken aback for a moment, but he immediately reacted with joy in his heart, and said happily: "Mr. Steve is indeed a talent, and we at Apple are very willing to cooperate with you!"

"Thank you, I hope we can cooperate happily!" Steve Case responded.

"Of course!" Scully laughed.

Ford Brook shook his head secretly, forget it, since Steve has already decided, Sequoia Capital can't force it, anyway, Sequoia Capital has shares on both sides...

Subsequently, the three of Steve began to talk about cooperation details and browser promotion issues.

three days later.

Apple held a press conference, announcing: "Apple and AOL will join forces to create the best browser ever, 'AL Browser'!!!"

The reporter asked: "Is AL taken from the two letters in the names of Apple and AOL?"

"That's right!"

"Excuse me, will every computer produced by Apple in the future have the AL browser installed?"

"Of course!"

"Netscape browser has come out on top, do you have confidence in AL browser? Do you think AL browser can beat Netscape browser?"

"Apple and AOL are very good companies and we are very confident!!!"

After the press conference, television, newspapers, and radio media all reported on it one after another.

Netscape browser was affected by the news of the spread, and its stock price fell instantly, dropping $4 on the day.

Henry was also the first to get the specific content of Apple's press conference.

Henry sat in the office, propped his face on the table with his hands, and frowned slightly. It was too tricky for Apple to join forces with AOL. However, considering that Sequoia Capital is an investor in both, it makes sense.

Microsoft has not intervened in the browser, but Apple has jumped out!

Apple has already set the stage, and it is far behind Microsoft. Henry is afraid of Microsoft, but not Apple.

In 1995, Microsoft's operating system dominated the world, and no one could use it. At that time, it dared to enter the browser. Apple CEO Scully deserves to be the worst CEO. Do you think Apple is still the Steve Jobs era, and the personal computer market share is the first?

After the IBM lion woke up, Apple CEO Jobs was finished. Now that compatible machines are mainstream, how can Apple computers compare?

AOL made a move, and Henry couldn't be idle either. Since they can find Apple as a helper. Can't find someone by yourself?

Henry sent a team to start lobbying Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq. And Henry himself was going to make a trip to Dell himself! Dell was established in 1984, and it has only been in development for more than three years. Now it is far incomparable with big companies such as IBM and Hewlett-Packard, but Henry knows that Dell will be very good in the future. In 1988, that is, this year, Dell was ready to go public. If the Nicholas Group can take a stake in Dell to form a strategic alliance, it will be beneficial to both parties!

Thinking of this, Henry called Michael Dell and asked him to meet! When Michael Dell learned that it was the chairman of the Nicholas Group who was going to meet him, he immediately agreed and said that he would take the initiative to rush to San Jose to meet Henry!

Different status is different!

For example, Jack Ma suddenly called you and said that he wanted to see you, but you were not excited and ran away?

Although Dell's development is good, it is far worse than Nicholas Group. Dell manufactures computers, it is impossible not to know the existence of the Nicholas Group, and its Netscape browser alone has a market value of 3.98 billion US dollars!

Three days later, Michael Dell arrived at the Nicholas Group headquarters.

Michael Dell is a young lad, now only 23 years old. But when he saw Henry, he was stunned for a long time, because the employees of the Nicholas Group introduced him that Henry was the chairman of the Nicholas Group!

"It's strange to see me?"

"No... I just didn't expect Mr. Williams to be so young, for a while, I was surprised!" Michael Dell said.

"Hehe, you're quite young too." Henry smiled, and then invited him to the office to sit down. After Helen brought Dale coffee, Henry said straight to the point, "You must be curious, why should I see you? In fact... I'll just say it straight, Nicholas Group wants to take a stake in Dell, I wonder if you welcome it?"

When Michael Dell heard this, his expression changed, and after a moment of silence, he asked, "Do you want to control? Or?"

"What if the Nicholas Group asks for a controlling stake?"

"Then it's hard to obey... Dell will never give up its controlling stake!!!" Michael Dell said firmly.

Henry laughed at this time, and sure enough, Michael Dell is ambitious and possessive, no wonder he will privatize Dell in the future! Think about the fact that after Dell's privatization, he actually holds 75% of Dell's shares, which is too much for a large company with a market value of tens of hundreds of billions! ! ! ! !

However, Henry's investment in Dell is only a temporary response to the joint effort between Apple and AOL, and Henry's future goal is still Apple. Apple has both "soft and hard" training, many talents, and many patents. The reason why Henry is interested in Apple is because of these two points!

"Hehe, in that case, how about 20%?! Nicholas Group's investment in Dell is just an investment! If we sell our shares in the future, we can authorize you to have the right to repurchase preferred shares!"

When Michael Dell heard this, his expression softened, he thought for a moment, and then responded: "Yes. How much do you plan to invest? Although Dell has only been established for more than three years, it is developing very fast! The conditions are too harsh, and I will not agree to it either!"

"Oh, of course. However, as far as we know, although Dell's sales exceeded 100 million US dollars last year, its profitability was relatively low, only 20 million US dollars! Therefore, we value Dell's total market value at 250 million US dollars. Dollar!"

Dell sells assembled machines. The price is much cheaper and the profit is much lower than that of brand machines. But small profits but quick turnover, Dell's performance has grown by leaps and bounds, and the company has grown rapidly. When the company becomes famous and the assembled machine is sold, it becomes a brand machine. The computer of the giant computer company, you dare to say that it is an assembled machine?

Michael Dell was dissatisfied when he heard this estimate, he frowned and said, "$250 million is too little. Dell will have more sales this year, and its profits will be higher than last year!"

"Then 300 million US dollars! You think, if Nicholas Group takes a stake in Dell, it will definitely push Dell to a peak. With our publicity and promotion, Dell will grow several times faster than it is now. !!!”

Michael Dell thought for a while, and finally nodded: "Okay, I agree with this estimate!"

Henry smiled at this time: "Are you interested in browsers?"

"You mean the Netscape browser?"

"That's right." Henry said, "The Nicholas Group intends to give up 1.5% of the Netscape browser shares to you, what do you think?"

Michael Dell frowned and had to think about whether to take cash or shares of Netscape Browser! From Dell's point of view, Netscape's share price is very volatile, with the potential to soar or plummet. Some time ago, because of Apple and America Online, Netscape's market value fell from 4.95 billion to less than 4 billion. Maybe it will fall in the future!

Jingle Bell……

At this time, the phone rang. Henry said sorry to Dale and answered the phone.

"The chairman, IBM, HP, and Compaq all agreed to install our Netscape browser and refused to install the AL browser!!! You can now turn on your TV to watch CBS News, and read the statement report jointly issued by these three companies!! !"

After Henry hung up the phone, he smiled at Dale and said, "Mr. Dale, I'll ask you to see something now."

After speaking, Henry turned on the TV and tuned to cbs news.

Reporter: "Welcome to CBS News, and now broadcast the latest news on this station: Although Apple and America Online are about to release the AL browser, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Compaq have successively issued statements that they will continue to use the Netscape browser. Fred Blue, a professor of computer science at Stanford University, believes that the status of the Netscape browser will remain unshakable..."

After reading it, Dell was so excited that he couldn't help turning his head to look at Henry. He smiled and said, "Mr. Williams, your company is really good! I agree to exchange shares!"

"Hehe, where is it!" Henry couldn't help but smiled complacently.

IBM, HP, Compaq continue to support Netscape browsers, Henry is not at all surprised. First of all, Netscape has already dominated the market and is very popular among netizens. If you don't install this on your computer, which one should you install? AOL and Apple's AL browser? Oh, the ghost shadow hasn't even appeared yet... Besides, Apple also sells computers. If everyone doesn't gang up to attack it, do you want to fatten it? ? ? (Okay, I’ve been very busy recently, and I’ll take out the code whenever I have time every day, but the code speed, alas… seems to be slower than the turtle speed, please forgive me. Finally, please help to vote... Woohoo, I'll try to improve the speed of coding...)

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