Chapter 533: Off the Leash

How do you make a gambler—no, a fish—sink deeper and deeper? You bait the hook, of course. First, let the other party get a taste of the sweetness so they sink deeper, and finally, step by step, they fall into the trap.

As for the three major cooperation projects proposed by Li Dongling and Dongling High-Tech to Microsoft, will they succeed? Bill Gates and Microsoft probably don't have a solid answer in their hearts either.

Moreover, these projects—including the computer project, the game console project, and the internet set-top box project—all require massive R&D investment and carry significant risks.

If they were to do this with nothing but empty words, Microsoft would likely hesitate when it came time to pour in the money. Most importantly, there's no way to monetize it directly. Who knows if these projects can succeed, or when they might!

But if they were to create a sample before tackling these three major projects, testing the waters with a smaller project first—if it succeeds, then... wouldn't Microsoft be howling with excitement as they charge forward? Wouldn't Microsoft's stock price soar as if it were on drugs? Would there be any lingering worries then?

The Guanxing digital video recording equipment proposed by Li Dongling is, to put it bluntly, about stealing rice bowls from television stations.

This device is equivalent to the "screen recording" function on future computers, "recording" the content of programs playing on the TV so users can watch them when they have time.

It's just that now, it uses hardware to accomplish this screen recording. In his past life, this type of device had very low sales in the domestic market, so it wasn't well-known.

But overseas, especially in America, it was very popular, gaining millions of users within a few years. And that was just in America; it was also very popular in Canada, Old Europe, and other places.

Later, these devices even added a feature that could skip commercials, leading countless American families to buy them specifically to skip ads while watching TV programs. Sales were incredibly hot.

In reality, this type of device is about stealing rice bowls from TV stations, DVD disc manufacturers, and Hollywood giants.

Because it can record programs, TV stations lose the money from rebroadcasting dramas, and it can skip commercials, causing TV stations to earn less advertising revenue.

Additionally, it can also record DVD discs, which increased the probability of pirated videos appearing by more than a notch.

In his past life, the TiVo company, which produced digital video recording equipment, spent no small amount of time in lawsuits with major TV stations, DVD disc manufacturers, and the six major Hollywood film studios.

Li Dongling didn't plan on playing with television digital video recording equipment for long; using it to bait the hook was enough. If the first batch of sales could meet expectations and make Microsoft believe that the major projects Li Dongling proposed were all hopeful of success, that would be enough!

Afterward, he would turn around and sell off this business. Isn't doing internet set-top boxes more appealing? Playing with digital video recording equipment means the technology will eventually be phased out, and you have to fight lawsuits with TV stations. What's the point? It would be better to build up momentum and then sell it off.

It's true that this business can make money, but being mired in lawsuits is too unworthy for Dongling High-Tech. However, for other companies, as long as they are bold enough to hire lawyers to fight to the death with TV stations and film companies, taking over this business and selling digital video recording machines is absolutely profitable!

Hearing that Li Dongling was using Guanxing digital video recording equipment to test the waters, Bill Gates couldn't help but feel moved.

Exchanging a glance with Ed Fries, both were somewhat moved. Indeed, if the digital video recording equipment could succeed, it would be equivalent to a successful test of the waters, and Microsoft could then let go and go all out.

"Microsoft is willing to support Guanxing digital video recording equipment!"

Bill Gates stated, "Microsoft is willing to invest five million US dollars in Guanxing for the R&D of digital video recording equipment, in exchange for a 40% stake in Guanxing, and will continue to invest in Guanxing's new projects subsequently."

A few million dollars is nothing; for Microsoft, it really is no different from playing around. If they win, they make a huge profit; if they lose, it's only a few million dollars. This amount of money really doesn't count for much to Microsoft.

Li Dongling thought for a moment and nodded, agreeing to Bill Gates's investment. For Guanxing's digital video recording equipment and internet set-top box projects, America would be an important market.

With Microsoft as a backer, who in America would dare to harbor crooked thoughts about Guanxing? Even those lords on Capitol Hill, and even the people in the White House, would have to weigh the consequences of offending Microsoft.

Don't really think that only HP dares to hire people to sit on "dirt planes" (private jets). Microsoft couldn't produce a driver who suddenly develops cancer or goes on a rampage in a cement truck while drunk? If Microsoft is pushed into a corner, they could still make someone get shot six times in the back and then produce a suicide report!

There is another point: for internet set-top boxes, they need to get TV stations of all sizes in America to authorize the opening of TV channels to Guanxing, not to mention the issue of fees. In this regard, having Microsoft step forward is much more useful than having Dongling High-Tech step forward!

As long as they capture the American internet set-top box market, the market share in Canada, Old Europe, and other places will basically be in hand.

By then, Guanxing will not only be returning to the arena, but will be dozens or even hundreds of times stronger than when it first debuted!

"Microsoft needs to launch an operating system suitable for the Dongxin version 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 said to Bill Gates, wanting Microsoft to fulfill its promise as soon as possible.

"As long as the Microsoft board of directors agrees to the cooperation with Dongling High-Tech, I will immediately have the systems department assemble a team to port the Microsoft system to Dongxin's MIPS architecture chips. There is no need to worry about this!"

Regarding this point, Bill Gates was quite confident. When it comes to hardware, although Microsoft is not well-adapted to the market and has various operations that make people's eyes go dark, they have rarely missed a beat when it comes to software.

Afterward, Li Dongling and Bill Gates agreed on the details of the cooperation between the two sides. Basically, the hardware work would be completed by Dongling High-Tech, and matters involving software, such as the system and software for Guanxing digital video recording equipment, would be completed by Microsoft.

In the future, when Microsoft launches computers and game consoles, Dongling High-Tech will provide components and be responsible for assembly and production. This is equivalent to the two sides beginning comprehensive cooperation, and Dongling High-Tech will become Microsoft's largest supplier in the hardware field!

Coming in a hurry and leaving in a hurry, after reaching an agreement with Li Dongling, Bill Gates took the agreement signed with Li Dongling's name and returned to Seattle by private jet. As long as the subsequent Microsoft board meeting passes it, this agreement will officially take effect.

As for whether this agreement will be blocked at the Microsoft board meeting, that is not a problem Li Dongling needs to worry about. If Bill Gates can't even push through this agreement, then he really should have a bloodbath inside Microsoft.

After reaching this agreement with Bill Gates, Li Dongling also let out a long sigh of relief. The goals for this trip to America had basically been achieved. He only needed to wait for Microsoft to issue an announcement, and then after attending Yahoo's IPO celebration banquet, Li Dongling would basically be setting off to return home.

The time he had been out on this trip was already not short. When he first arrived in America, it was still the first half of the year, and now it was already mid-year. Dongling High-Tech's headquarters also had a pile of things waiting for Li Dongling to handle.

Seattle, Microsoft Town. Microsoft's status in Seattle is like Dongling High-Tech's in Pingyang. Of course, Seattle is strong, and there are other giant companies within its borders, so the reliance on Microsoft is not that strong, but Microsoft has an equally astonishing influence in this city.

Today's Microsoft executive meeting was held somewhat suddenly. When the Microsoft directors and executives attending the meeting arrived, their faces were still filled with confusion; clearly, they hadn't received news beforehand.

If Li Dongling and Larsen were here, they would also discover several familiar faces among these executives, including Microsoft's head of public relations, Grant; head of legal, Jon; and Panos, the head of Microsoft's hardware department, who was in the corner of the meeting room.

A few years ago, these people had all dealt with Dongling High-Tech. Among them, Panos even had to thank Dongling High-Tech; without Dongling High-Tech, his predecessor Spencer wouldn't have been kicked out, so how could it have been his turn to take the position?

After the reconciliation lawsuit that year, the former head of Microsoft's hardware department, Spencer, was used as a scapegoat and kicked out directly by Microsoft. Only then did Panos become the head of Microsoft's hardware department.

But Microsoft's hardware department also became somewhat listless as a result, and its status within Microsoft dropped by more than a notch, with a hint of being marginalized.

Panos sat bored in the corner of the meeting room. Other Microsoft bigwigs like Ballmer hadn't received wind of Bill Gates holding this meeting, let alone him. Moreover, Panos didn't think this meeting could have anything to do with him.

However, when the ambitious Bill Gates brought Ed Fries and others to the meeting room, his opening words left Panos stunned. He was all too familiar with the name Dongling High-Tech; after all, his predecessor in this position was driven away because of Dongling High-Tech.

Now Microsoft wanted to cooperate comprehensively with Dongling High-Tech, and even launch a supporting operating system version for the chip company under Dongling High-Tech. This gave Panos a feeling of absurdity. The former rivals were actually going to start cooperating?

And afterward, the several cooperation projects proposed by Bill Gates made the meeting room gasp repeatedly. Even Panos couldn't help but clench his fists. Microsoft wanted to cooperate with Dongling High-Tech on a computer project; wouldn't the spring of his hardware department be coming?

As long as they launch a computer brand, the status of Panos's hardware department within Microsoft would rise by more than ten levels directly!

"The living room strategy will be Microsoft's main goal for the next decade, and it is also Microsoft's Normandy landing in the hardware industry. It must succeed and cannot fail!

In the next two years, Microsoft will work with Dongling High-Tech to launch Guanxing digital video recording equipment. If this project can succeed, Microsoft will comprehensively push forward the three major hardware projects: the computer project, the game console project, and the internet set-top box project. No one can stop Microsoft's footsteps in hardware, no one!"

Bill Gates waved his fist forcefully and shouted out Microsoft's ambitious plan in the hardware industry.

After a few seconds of silence in the meeting room, a burst of fierce applause broke out. As for the Intel alliance—screw Intel. At this moment, even the Microsoft executives who were more biased toward Intel didn't dare to openly act as traitors and say they wouldn't let Microsoft play with hardware! ===== CHAPTER 534 =====