The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 149



Only Krnovel

Episode 149 rebound (3)

Steve and I walked and talked through Apple’s product planning office.

It was a place where everything from Apple’s first Macintosh to the recently released iPhone was on display, and I stood in the middle and opened my arms.

“Don’t you feel like something is missing?”

“What is lacking?”

“Macs and iPhones are so far apart. There is no in-between product.”

“Are you talking about a laptop? They’re already developing a laptop-style Mac. “I’ve already decided on the name MacBook.”

Apple was a PC company, and of course it also developed laptops.

However, due to the nature of Apple, they only released high-spec products, so most of the products were very poor in portability.

“Are you planning to make a laptop by improving the PowerBook or iBook?”

“MacBook is a completely different product from existing products. “Two types are already in development, divided into a model that can be used by experts and a model for general users.”

Of course, I had also heard of a MacBook.

I had actually used it and knew that it was a product that would have a huge fan base.

But what I wanted wasn’t a MacBook.

The purpose was to bring out the story of a new product that has not yet been developed.

“The MacBook is probably in the form of a laptop. Even so, there is no intermediate product between the iPhone and the laptop.”

“Stop spinning it around and take out what you’re hiding inside.”

“The iPhone already has a touch screen. If so, wouldn’t this apply to laptops as well? “If we can replace all input devices such as keyboards and mice with touch screens, we can make them ultra-small.”

He gave a hint about the iPad.

Since the release of the iPhone was brought forward by several years, shouldn’t the release of the iPad also be brought forward?

“It sounds like they are telling us to try again after Apple’s failure. The product you mentioned has already been manufactured by Apple. “The extraordinary failure called Message Pad is exactly the product you mentioned.”

“The reason Message Pad failed was because it was too ahead of its time. But now there are a lot of things you can do with pad computers.”

It would not be wrong to say that Apple fell into the abyss because of the Message Pad.

So it was natural that Steve came out negatively.

“If we were to make a product similar to the message pad, the board would be very upset. Would that be okay?”

“Seeing as you are worried about the board of directors, it seems like you want to create Steve as well.”

“We have already secured the technology through the message pad. So, it is possible to create a pad-type laptop without spending a lot of development costs.”

“I absolutely believe that I will succeed. “Don’t worry about the board of directors, just trust Steve’s intuition and move forward.”

Steve thought for a moment.

It was only after fiddling with the message pad displayed in the corner for a while that I opened my mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be possible to change the liquid crystal display to color, enable music and video playback, and utilize the writing function so that it can be used in universities or workplaces?”

“By using the technology used in Message Pad and iPod, and even using the iPhone OS, development costs are almost zero. “It’s a low-risk product, so is there any need to worry?”

In fact, the iPad was far from being an innovative product that created something new.

Although it was just a patchwork of existing technology, it was a huge hit that could open up a new market.

“You are right. It will be the perfect product to fill Apple’s lacking product lineup! I don’t know why I’ve been meditating until now. Just talking with you for a few minutes gave me such great ideas.”

“If you think so, I would be grateful.”

“It seems like he just wants to get it from you. “If there is anything I can help you with, please let me know.”

Of course, I didn’t just throw the idea away.

Of course, when the iPad was released, some of the patents included in it included technology owned by Taewoo Electronics, so royalties could be received.

However, this idea was not just thrown out for the sake of receiving royalties.

“There is one thing I would like to ask for your help with.”

“Tell me something. “I received the idea for the 2nd generation iPhone and iPad, and I will help in any way I can.”

“I want to collaborate with Apple to create a TV.”

“TV? Are you talking about the Internet TV made by Taewoo Electronics?”

“That’s right. “I want to create a completely new TV by combining Apple’s sensibility and Taewoo Electronics’ technology.”

So far, Apple has taken the lead.

But now that Apple has grown enough, it is time to take advantage of it.

“Hmm, Apple doesn’t make TV products.”

“Is there anything special about TV? These days, don’t you watch videos on your PC and your iPhone?”

“Would there be anything new in collaborating with us to make a TV?”

“You can think of it as a TV that is compatible with all Apple products.”

To be honest, I needed Apple’s image.

Although it was greatly diluted, Taewoo Electronics still had an old-fashioned image, and in order to break away from that image, it had to be overlaid with Apple’s emotional image.

“We can help with the design and software, but Taewoo Electronics must take care of the technology to produce the TV.”

“Of course I intend to. All designs will be left to Apple. Taewoo Electronics will focus only on developing TVs and set-top boxes.”

“Then how do you plan to divide the shares?”

“I would like to split it 7:3. In return, Taewo will cover all development costs.”

In some ways, it could have been a loss-making business for us.

Taewoo Electronics is only using Apple’s design for its TVs, but it is giving them a 30% stake.

But in the grand scheme of things, it was absolutely no loss.

This is because they are trying to create Apple-Taewoo TV for the purpose of making money from selling content, not trying to make a profit from selling home appliances.

And the price of Apple’s name was also a kind of promotional cost.

A huge amount of money was needed to change the TV market dominated by Samjin and CL, and the 30% stake given to Apple was the cost.

“It is a condition that there is absolutely no reason to refuse. “In fact, I feel sorry because the conditions are so advantageous to us.”

“Don’t worry, I plan to eat that much.”

It doesn’t matter if the conditions are favorable to Apple.

After all, I was the majority shareholder of Apple.

My share of Apple alone is over 60%.

Considering that, even if a 30% stake in Apple-Taewoo TV was given to Apple, in reality, it would only be giving a 10% stake.

“We will create a new TV production department and send it to Korea. Detailed discussions should be held between the people in charge. “I may care about the big picture, but I have no choice but to focus more on the 2nd generation iPhone and pad-type products.”

“It is enough if you just do that.”

I took out the contract I had prepared in advance.

Steve handed the contract over to the company’s legal team.

Since it was a contract that would not cause any damage to Apple, the legal tip immediately gave the OK sign, and Steve and I were able to sign the contract before the sun set.

***

After finishing my work in California, I returned to SAVE Investment Company.

A team leader welcomed me warmly, as if it were a separated family reunion.

“CEO! Why did you come now! “I thought my neck was going to fall off while I was waiting.”

“Why are you making such a fuss? “What’s going on?”

“The phone is on fire. “The companies that handed over their Apple shares to us are going through a huge uproar.”

“Just ignore it. Did they threaten us into selling it? “They only bought it because they made a fuss saying they would hand it over.”

“There is an uproar over whether the company knew about the launch of the iPhone in advance and acquired Apple’s shares.”

“It is so unconscionable to do this now without saying anything even when it was unveiled at CES. Just ignore it.”

The relationship with Wall Street was important.

However, I couldn’t keep acting like a bully forever.

Because they have done so well so far, this kind of reaction is coming.

“may I?”

“Then, ask if you are thinking about buying stocks of other IT companies again. Then it will lower its tail.”

The dot-com bubble was still not over.

This was also the reason why Apple’s stock price only rose fivefold even though the iPhone was a huge success.

In this situation, there was no investment company that could take over the stocks of other IT companies.

“In fact, I didn’t even mention stocks of other IT companies.”

“It’s natural that IT companies are still using porridge. “Have you ever been contacted by Jeffrey?”

“I’ve had a few phone calls complaining.”

Amazon, created by Jeffrey, was also an IT company.

It was clear that he was going through a hard time as the stock, which was close to $5, fell to $0.50.

“I want to see Jeffrey’s face after a long time.”

“If you call me now, I will come running to the office right away. “I sang a song saying I wanted to meet the CEO.”

“Then contact me now. “I’ll have to see for myself how damaged her face is.”

What Team Leader Han said was not a lie.

It was Jeffrey who came running to the office less than an hour after I contacted him, and his complexion was gray.

“I thought you forgot about me. They say they stop by Apple headquarters every time they come to the U.S., but why do they never visit Amazon? “You’re holding such a large stake.”

“Drink a glass of cool water first.”

I offered water to an excited Jeffrey.

It was only after gulping down a glass of water that Jeffrey calmed down his excitement.

“I heard that a return to surplus is possible starting in the second half of this year. Is that correct?”

“I think we could see a net profit of about $5 million. “Although the net profit is not much, we are finally able to get out of the deficit.”

“Isn’t the manager of a company with sales exceeding $1 billion complaining too much?”

Amazon was growing at an incredible rate.

Sales rose by more than 15% every year, and despite being hit hard by the dot-com bubble, sales were actually increasing.

“We are using most of our sales to build a logistics center. “And I can’t even tell you how much the labor costs are.”

“Labor costs are definitely an issue. Taewo Group is also struggling with labor cost issues.”

Jeffrey was a manager who was famous for being vicious in ordering things to happen.

Because it was cheaper to call an ambulance than to install an air conditioner at the distribution center, they did not install an air conditioner.

People like this are the reason why Amazon has taken over 50% of the U.S. mules market.

“But Korea is a little better. Do you know how much it costs to hire someone in America?”

“I know very well.”

We continued our conversation for a while on the common topic of labor costs.

Jeffrey continued to talk about the problems he was having with labor costs, as if he was trying to get out of trouble.

“I would like to join hands with the devil if I can save on labor costs.”

“Instead of joining hands with the devil, how about joining hands with Taewoo Group?”

I didn’t call him to appease Jeffrey.

Amazon has grown enough now that it is time to leave it behind.