Microsoft's Windows system finally arrived late, but it managed to address a significant flaw in IBM PCs.
"What the hell? Didn't that jerk say it wouldn't be out until the end of the year? Why did they launch it before November? Have we kept up with our office software?"
"We released ours the very next day, so we were among the first to follow suit."
"That scoundrel just pulled a sneak attack on me."
"Sir, it seems he was a bit worried."
"Alright, Tom, keep an eye on Intel's new products, and check on our graphics acceleration card."
"Are we giving it to United Microelectronics this time?"
"Yes, the yen is appreciating too rapidly. There will be another surge next year, and we can't afford that loss. Hopefully, their memory technology can keep up in time."
...
"Steve, are you sure you want to buy this company?"
"Yes, Lucas, don't be too greedy. If it's too pricey here, I'll just go attach myself to Disney instead."
"That's actually a good idea. If you buy this company, it's best to attach yourself as well."
"William White is such a shark."
"Ha ha, Steve, you haven't been in Hollywood long enough. Trust me, this guy may be a jerk, but he's not greedy. To put it plainly, he's just in it for the fun."
"Alright, I'll think about it."
Steve was feeling a bit stuck, as he was in a really bad mood. Just as Apple booted him out, Bill Gates stole his thunder.
Even though he had mocked Gates quite heavily, it didn't help him find solace. The Windows system, while somewhat low-key, was received much better than the Macintosh.
For one simple reason: that system was genuinely usable with a graphical interface. His own creation was flashy, but ultimately hollow.
...
"Bill, congratulations; your software is really great. If you need any financing, remember to let me know."
"Sure, I'll do that."
William White hung up the phone, rolling his eyes. That jerk wouldn't let him increase his stake. On the contrary, that guy was still fixated on White Software's office suite.
William had already anticipated this situation in the IT industry. Now, it was the way it was; no matter what ideas you had, that damn hard drive wouldn't load your dreams.
To be fair, there wasn't any magnetoresistive head technology yet, so disks couldn't possibly see any substantial upgrade. This kind of tech was still lying in the lab and wasn't likely to appear anytime soon.
In the current environment, no one particularly cared about Microsoft, including those around William White. They just thought that four-eyed nerd had a bit of a quirky demeanor; something about him seemed a bit off.
Could it be that the boss had shifted his tastes?
...
Bill Gates was actually feeling pretty happy at the moment; the compatible computers were selling like hotcakes. That company called Compaq had practically swept the industry.
Many people were saying Compaq was actually IBM's muscle; they couldn't make their move, so they trained an ally instead.
Apple and Commodore were furious at the Justice Department's inaction. The Justice Department was nearly getting blasted to bits. If these two weren't publicly traded companies, they might have closed shop by now.
IBM was feeling annoyed; who would cultivate such a punk? Don't they realize where this crowd came from? They even turned out to be my henchmen.
And that damn Bill Gates didn't even give them a heads-up; what an ungrateful jerk.
...
William White admired the Big Blue; they had too many new technologies at disposal. That so-called magneto resistive head technology likely existed already; they just weren't willing to unveil it yet.
When it came to antitrust discussions, the theory sounded good, but the individuals drafting those policies were taking things for granted.
Does fair competition really exist?
In the age of the internet, it's just big fish eating small fish. If there weren't any regional monopolies formed, who would offer you any high valuation?
If they really wanted to eliminate trusts, they first had to dismantle the conglomerates. As long as this existed, antitrust laws would be a joke; they were merely a tool for some people to get rich.
...
"William, are you really not interested in my animation company?"
"Ha ha, you should sell it to Steve Jobs; don't waste time with me. Even if I had some use for it, I wouldn't want to stir up trouble with that guy. At least I'd keep my ears peaceful."
"Ha ha, you're something else. Enough of this; how's your graphics acceleration card coming along?"
"At least not until next year. Industrial Light & Magic might be able to test it out; otherwise, how about we work on a big collaboration?"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course! Otherwise, who would I sell this thing to?"
"Alright, let me know when the script is ready."
William White lay in bed contemplating what to shoot next. Sometimes, having too many choices wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Titanic?
Though the wreckage had been discovered, it seemed to be a hot topic. Still, this one needed to wait a bit longer.
Perhaps Pirates of the Caribbean would be better. It's quite suitable right now, and actors are relatively inexpensive. Once that Johnny Depp kid grows up, he's going to cost a fortune.
The shooting locations were readily available; nowadays, Dinosaur Island was still under construction. Adding another project wouldn't hurt.
Having thought this through, William White jumped up, starting to sketch out the design of the Black Pearl.
Building that ship wouldn't be easy. You could forget about it if you thought it could be done in less than a year.
*****
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