Qiao Dashen's world is straightforward: either you're a genius or an idiot, a friend or an enemy.
Identifying himself as Old Joe, he undoubtedly falls into the friend category.
Los Angeles is close to San Francisco, and a high-speed rail would be ideal, but unfortunately, there isn't one.
The plane journey is short, and for such close distances, a private plane might be seen as extravagant, but Qiao Dashen isn't one to cut corners.
"Old Joe, I have a lot on my plate; can't you talk to my CEO?" William White is amused by Joe's leisurely demeanor.
"You should stay in Silicon Valley; what's the point of coming to Los Angeles?"
Cutting through the banter, William White extends his point, "Silicon Valley is straightforward, Hollywood is captivating. I'm young; why not explore Hollywood's beauty?"
With unabashed shamelessness, William White makes this declaration, leaving Joe Qiao and Makura stunned.
"What's with your expressions? Is there something wrong with what I said?"
"Cough, well, William, your shamelessness is beyond me."
Despite Joe Qiao's seemingly serious tone, he's no saint. Accused of causing his girlfriend's demise, he denies responsibility, claiming incompetence.
There might also be a hint of guilt. Naming the new project after his daughter suggests a level of remorse. William White, being no novice, refrains from mocking him.
"Enough of that; come take a look at our Lisa computer."
Joe Qiao still admires William White's computer technology. The speed of his keyboard typing rivals that of a professional typist.
"16-bit? It's dull. My game consoles are all 32-bit. If the price is right, this thing isn't bad." William White candidly points out the issue.
"William, your cost control is impressive, and we have OEM plans," adds Makura to ease the situation.
"Ha, I have no choice, really. The U.S. lacks production capacity, and guild criticism hampers OEM arrangements." William White expresses his frustration. Patriotism is a driving force; he can't help it.
"William, when will your office software be ready? I have a feeling you're developing 32-bit." Qiao Dashen, always centered on individuals, acknowledges Lisa as an excessive product but inquires about White Software's future.
To be honest, there's not much to do. Our eight-bit system is about to be updated. Judging by my assessment, its lifespan will surpass that of the 16-bit, unless you can significantly drop semiconductor prices." William White is candid. Friends are friends, and business is business.
Apple will IPO this year, necessitating new products for a confidence boost. The discussion needs to move forward carefully. Apple differs from White Software, and the decision ultimately rests with the boss.
Thinking about the blue giant's Checkers plan, William White sighs. Other giants are giants, creating a trend that crushes opponents with minimal effort.
Despite knowing that White Software doesn't make hardware, nobody doubts their design capabilities. Doing it versus not doing it is a fine line.
Reflecting on the success of Bill Gates, William White can't help but wonder about his dilemma.
It's right to be conflicted. How can you capitalize on an opportunity without feeling entangled?
Someone suggests that he should focus on the Windows system; why bother with the complexity?
Is it really that simple?
The answer is a resounding no.
Bill Gates' success has an era-specific backdrop. Many software companies at the time surpassed him. The Windows 1.0 he created was essentially copying Apple.
Why didn't Joe Qiao bother him?
Apple was also copied, with Xerox being the main victim.
The saying goes, everything in the world is a big copy, and in this case, it holds true. So, don't blame the cottage manufacturers; they're simply the most compliant.
U.S. patents are intriguing. Inventing is one thing; production and sales are another. What you have in the laboratory has limited protection.
Xerox had excellent research institutions but failed in the market.
Don't even mention other things; Xerox already had a connected computer in the laboratory. Isn't this the original router?
When was Cisco founded?
In 1984.
However, it didn't take long for its market value to surpass Xerox.
The same holds for graphics processing systems. Joe Qiao stole it, and then Bill Gates imitated it. The company that invented all this ended up in the trash.
Various ridicule followed their success, highlighting their incompetence as they showed off their achievements.
William White doesn't understand how the patent for the mouse was taken away at such a cheap price.
Xerox's grandfather is altruistic, and it's truly puzzling. Is their boss a Maoist? The company operates under capitalist rules.
This remains an eternal suspicious case in IT.