The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 82

Innovation Icon (2)

Commodore CEO Luke Bernard called out to them in a cheerful voice.

“Charlie! Sarah!”

Sarah responded to his call with her signature bright smile.

“Mr. Bernard! I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Meanwhile, Jung Hyun-woo subtly examined the Commodore booth.

‘The booth size has decreased compared to last year.’

It wasn’t just the size of the booth that had shrunk for Commodore. The energy of the booth and the expressions of the employees were all diminished compared to the previous year.

However, the fact that they were still participating in CES [Consumer Electronics Show] was commendable.

‘Are they still doing okay?’

Atari and its partners, which were the cause of the Atari shock, couldn’t even participate in CES.

‘They’re in a situation where the company either lives or dies.’

Luke Bernard led them to the Commodore booth.

“Charlie, Sarah, this is our Commodore’s new product line.”

At the center of Commodore’s new product corner, the Plus/4 was proudly displayed.

Jung Hyun-woo could tell that he hadn’t given up on the Plus/4.

‘Well, everything from marketing to manufacturing must be ready, so he couldn’t have scrapped the Plus/4 project with just my word.’

But no matter how favorably he tried to look at it, the Plus/4 was a failure.

‘Come to think of it, the Macintosh and Plus/4 were released at the same time.’

Apple and Commodore.

Jung Hyun-woo thought that the fates of the two companies were determined by the two new products, the Macintosh and Plus/4.

“Arthur, please explain our product to Mr. Jung.”

A Commodore employee, named Arthur, who was instructed by Luke Bernard, took a breath and approached Jung Hyun-woo.

“Mr……”

“Jung.”

“Mr. Jung, the Plus/4 is a new model that applies Commodore’s latest technology, the integrated module.”

Jung Hyun-woo turned his head at his explanation.

“What’s the reason Commodore used the integrated module?”

Arthur, who seemed to be from the development team, unlike Luke Bernard, answered his question without hesitation.

“The integrated module can increase compatibility between parts and lower production costs.”

“If compatibility has improved, how much performance improvement is there compared to the previous model?”

“Text processing ability has improved by more than 30%.”

Jung Hyun-woo had also confirmed that the Plus/4’s text processing ability was decent. But the Plus/4 was not an office computer. The feature that people wanted most from Commodore’s new product was improved game performance.

“What about game performance?”

Arthur paused at his question.

“That, that is…….”

“It would be a problem if it’s worse than the previous model.”

“We are trying to bring it up to the same level as the product announced last year.”

The word ‘trying’ meant that it had not yet reached the same level as the product announced last year.

‘A new product with game functions inferior to the previous work.’

Jung Hyun-woo couldn’t help but narrow his brows.

‘The development purpose of the Plus/4 must be more about reducing production costs than improving functions.’

Reducing production costs usually translates into price competitiveness for the product. However, Commodore did not lower the price of the new Plus/4, but rather raised it.

‘If they try to get more than $300, no one will buy the Plus/4.’

The moment he frowned, Arthur added an explanation.

“Mr. Jung. The model exhibited at this event is version 1.0, and when version 2.0 is released, you will be able to get the performance you want.”

He couldn’t help but be conscious of not only Jung Hyun-woo but also Luke Bernard’s gaze.

“You mean the game function will also be improved.”

“Yes.”

Arthur glossed over it with version 2.0, but he couldn’t help but let out a long sigh inside.

‘Hoo… With the Plus/4’s lacking functions, we can’t expect the same sales volume as the Commodore 64.’

As he was a developer who directly developed the Plus/4, he knew the strengths and weaknesses of the Plus/4 better than Jung Hyun-woo.

“What is the price?”

“The price has not been decided yet.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at his answer.

“You mean you’re still considering it before the release.”

It was the management, not the development team, that decided the price. He knew he couldn’t get an accurate answer from Arthur.

“Would you like to take a look?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded because there were eyes around him and activated the Plus/4. The result was the same as before.

‘It hasn’t improved at all.’

That was because the problem with the Plus/4 was not something that could be improved in a few days.

“How is it?”

At Arthur’s question, Jung Hyun-woo forced a bright expression.

“As you said, the text processing ability is considerable.”

Luke Bernard, who was listening to his answer from the side, asked.

“Charlie, do you think the integration of Plus/4 and JP Services will work well?”

Still, the fact that the text processing ability was excellent was quite helpful when running programs like JP Services.

“I think it will be fine.”

Luke Bernard was relieved by Jung Hyun-woo’s positive answer.

“Thank goodness. I was worried about what would happen if there was a problem with the collaboration with JP Services.”

He was prioritizing collaboration with JP Services, but Jung Hyun-woo didn’t think this was the problem.

‘If there isn’t a significant improvement in the game function, it will be a big failure.’

Of course, even if the Plus/4 failed, the Commodore series already sold in the market would not disappear. He had decided to collaborate with Commodore, aiming for the tens of millions of Commodore series installed in each home.

“Mr. Bernard, as soon as I return to Boston, I will dispatch employees to cooperate with Commodore.”

Luke Bernard nodded, satisfied with his words.

“We’ll be preparing on this side too.”

The second meeting with Commodore also went smoothly.

Sarah stood behind Jung Hyun-woo and thought.

‘A successful collaboration usually flows smoothly like this.’

She predicted that Victoria Corporation and Commodore’s collaboration would be successful regardless of the success of the Plus/4.

* * *

The first Macintosh released to the world in January 1984.

Jung Hyun-woo couldn’t help but admire it after seeing the real thing.

‘Small, compact, and cute.’

Apple was Apple even in 1984.

The Macintosh, the first personal computer system to actively use a mouse and window system, attracted the attention of CES visitors.

“Excuse me, how do you operate this computer?”

Apple officials were busy explaining how to use the Macintosh to reporters and visitors.

“Instead of entering commands with the keyboard, you can use the mouse to press the buttons on the screen like this.”

“Ah, I see.”

People were frowning in various places, as it was difficult to adapt to the new system.

“It’s harder than I thought.”

“Why do I have to run programs with a mouse instead of a keyboard?”

“I’ll have to make a new space for the mouse on my desk.”

On the other hand, Jung Hyun-woo was operating the mouse with skillful movements.

‘The mouse sensitivity seems to be low, but I can’t expect the same feeling as 2020 in 1984.’

In January 1984, all mice used at CES were ball mice. The sensitivity of the laser mouse he used and the ball mouse were different.

Of course, in the early days of laser mice, they couldn’t keep up with the smoothness of ball mice, so they were shunned by hardcore users such as professional gamers.

Squeak. Squeak.

As Jung Hyun-woo familiarly controlled the ball mouse, a middle-aged man wearing glasses approached him.

“You seem to like the Macintosh.”

Jung Hyun-woo answered without turning his head.

“I think the newly developed Macintosh has excellent user convenience.”

“User convenience, huh. That’s a professional answer. May I ask what your occupation is?”

“I’m studying in a computer-related field.”

Jung Hyun-woo was on leave from MIT [Massachusetts Institute of Technology], but he thought that the image of a student was better than the image of someone working in the IT industry, so he answered like this.

“Ah, I see. May I ask which school it is?”

A question that seemed to pry.

However, Jung Hyun-woo didn’t care about his attitude. He clicked the left button on the mouse and answered the question.

“MIT.”

“I knew it was MIT.”

I knew it?

The other person thought that Jung Hyun-woo’s hand movements or gaze were unusual.

“May I ask just one more question?”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded without taking his eyes off the screen.

“You can ask two, no, three more questions. I still have time.”

He was moving the mouse and looking at various parts of the Macintosh system.

‘The speed isn’t that much faster than existing computers.’

It didn’t seem like the maximization of computing power or the adoption of a new CPU had been achieved.

If he had touched it, it would be about optimization?

‘The installed software is also basic.’

Most of the computers exhibited at the exhibition hall only had basic software installed. The reason was that if complex programs were installed, they were likely to cause malfunctions due to conflicts with the initial model.

So the Macintosh was not much different from the new models of other computer manufacturers.

“If there is anything to improve on the Macintosh, what would it be?”

When asked what to improve, Jung Hyun-woo turned his head to check the other person. He was a middle-aged man rarely seen in the IT industry.

“Can I say what I feel?”

“Yes, it’s okay. The company’s position is to reflect user feedback as much as possible.”

The company.

The middle-aged man seemed to be an Apple employee.

‘Hmm, a middle-aged employee. He looks much older than Steve Jobs.’

In fact, the only Apple employees he knew were Steve Jobs and Wozniak.

“I hope software compatibility is improved.”

“Software compatibility?”

“I think it would be better to increase the number of third parties that can be run on this computer and then increase the number of programs that can be used.”

The middle-aged man frowned slightly at Jung Hyun-woo’s unexpected answer.

“That’s not an answer about hardware or software.”

He seemed to be looking for areas to improve from a hardware perspective.

“Since it’s neither, wouldn’t it be easier to improve?”

A sharp remark.

The middle-aged man sighed briefly.

“Ha, that’s… a little difficult for the company.”

The addition of third parties was a matter to be decided by the management, not the engineers. Of course, the engineers couldn’t do nothing. They could make various requests or demands to the management as needed.

‘I don’t know if a request or demand to increase third parties will work against that Steve Jobs.’

Steve Jobs was a genius. But he was a notoriously stubborn CEO even in the quirky Silicon Valley. Knowing that, he lowered his voice.

“I’m just telling you the shortcomings of the Macintosh honestly. You don’t have to take it too seriously.”

He was just telling the truth. So you don’t have to fix it. But the middle-aged man was taking his point seriously.

“Hoo… I will try to make up for the shortcomings as much as possible.”

Jung Hyun-woo stopped the mouse when he heard his words.

‘He’ll make up for it? Is his position higher than I expected?’

Maybe he was the top person in charge of developing the Macintosh.

‘Hmm, that could be. They said Steve Jobs didn’t actually develop the Macintosh.’

When he took his hand off the mouse and got up from his seat, the next visitor quickly filled the empty seat.

The middle-aged man wearing glasses was still standing behind Jung Hyun-woo.

“Mr……”

He seemed to want Jung Hyun-woo to introduce himself.

‘It’s a little difficult to reveal my name here.’

If he were a young employee, he would have just gotten up without knowing. But wasn’t he from a country of respect for elders?

Jung Hyun-woo hesitated for a moment and then honestly revealed his name.

“My name is Charlie Jung. Jung is my last name.”

“Ah, Mr. Jung.”

The middle-aged man wearing glasses said Mr. Jung and then raised his eyebrows after a while.

“By any chance?”

Jung Hyun-woo waved his hand.

“I don’t think it’s that chance.”

The middle-aged man was about to say something when Sarah approached, raising her voice.

“Charlie! You were here?”

The middle-aged man looked back and forth between Sarah and Jung Hyun-woo and widened his eyes.

‘A young man and a blonde beauty!’

Jung Hyun-woo clicked his tongue inwardly, seeing his expression.

‘Tsk, it seems like my identity has been revealed.’

He had even told him his last name was Jung, so he thought it was not unreasonable for the other person to recognize him.

‘Victoria Corporation seems to have become quite famous.’

The next moment, the middle-aged man wearing glasses raised his voice.

“You’re a good-looking couple!”

At his words, Jung Hyun-woo’s expectations completely collapsed. The middle-aged man had not realized his and Sarah’s identities at all.

‘Ugh, a good-looking couple…’

He had completely missed the mark.

Sarah hooked her right arm into Jung Hyun-woo’s left arm and chimed in with the middle-aged man’s words.

“Do we really look that good together?”

The middle-aged man nodded greatly.

“Yes, you look very good together.”

Jung Hyun-woo was about to say that she was his sister in a blunt voice. At that moment, Sarah whispered to him.

“Charlie, Robert has arrived.”

“How did you know?”

“It seems the hotel called here.”

“CES managed to find Sarah.”

Sarah widened her eyes and asked.

“Didn’t you hear them looking for me on the broadcast?”

Jung Hyun-woo scratched his head and replied.

“I didn’t hear it because I was focused on the Macintosh.”

Sarah pulled his arm regardless of his answer.

“Charlie, let’s go.”

CES viewing ends here.

It was time to go to work.

Jung Hyun-woo followed him and asked.

“Where is the meeting place?”

“Hotel business lounge.”

Sarah wanted to talk to Robert in a proper conference room, not a guest room.

* * *

Business lounge meeting room decorated with modern design.

Robert raised his voice there with an absurd expression.

“So, you’re saying that Bank of America offered an acquisition amount of more than $2 billion, but you refused?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered his question calmly.

“I couldn’t sell the company at such a cheap price.”

Robert had a dumbfounded look on his face.

‘Is $2 billion a cheap price?’

As he had said several times, $2 billion in 1984 was a huge amount worth more than $20 billion in the 2020s.

‘$2 billion to acquire our company. JP Morgan is trying to replicate the company with $2 billion, and is the $2 billion I know different from the $2 billion they know?’

Robert couldn’t understand why Bank of America and JP Morgan were so eager to preempt JP Services.

That’s because JP Services, which he was thinking of, was a simple program that only told the current price of stocks.

“Hoo… Okay. Let’s say $2 billion is a cheap price. But why did you tell JP Morgan about that fact? If you had just refused neatly, this wouldn’t have happened?”

Robert thought that Bank of America’s attempt to acquire Victoria Corporation triggered this incident.

Jung Hyun-woo answered his question calmly this time as well.

“Because I have to cooperate with Bank of America.”

Robert raised his voice as if angry.

“Cooperation! What on earth does that mean? Didn’t you say you rejected their acquisition?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered his question immediately.

“I think rejecting the acquisition of Victoria Corporation and collaborating with Bank of America are different things.”

Robert pounded his chest as if frustrated.

“Mr. Jung, no, Charlie! JP Morgan and Bank of America are rivals, no, enemies! As long as we are working with JP Morgan, we cannot be with Bank of America.”

Unlike him, Jung Hyun-woo did not raise his voice. Instead, he delivered the words clearly.

“Robert, why do you think it’s impossible? We can work with not only Bank of America but also Citibank, Goldman Sachs, and Lehman Brothers.”

Robert was shocked by his answer.

‘This is a serious problem. Charlie is serious.’

He thought that no company could work with so many banks.

“Charlie, what are you talking about? How can we go with so many banks? Working with everyone means that we can become enemies with everyone.”

Jung Hyun-woo asked with a face that he didn’t understand.

“Robert, are you saying that we should give up so many customers to other companies?”

“Give up?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered with his hands together.

“If we can overcome this crisis well, we can monopolize Wall Street.”

Monopoly.

Robert was speechless when he realized what Jung Hyun-woo was drawing.

‘Ha, the fact that he’s collaborating with so many banks…’

All stock live services that will start in the future are supplied through Victoria Corporation. He wanted to monopolize Wall Street’s stock live service.

‘A young man who is not even twenty years old is aiming for the heart of the world economy.’

Numerous question marks popped up in Robert’s head.

‘Is that possible?’

No, it wasn’t a matter of whether it was possible or not.

How can you think of this?

Because he’s a genius?

Or because he doesn’t know the world?

Either way, it lacked realism.

As far as Robert knew, Wall Street banks would not respond to his demands.

“Charlie, do you think that’s possible?”

Jung Hyun-woo answered his question firmly.

“Of course it’s possible.”

He believed that more than that was possible.