Good news: Apple is a success! Bad news: Steve Jobs is out of a job!

Chapter 49 Good news: Apple is a success! Bad news: Steve Jobs is out of a job!

Woz's words confused Ethan, but his help made Ethan very happy.

After a pleasant breakfast, I hummed a tune and sang a song as I cleaned up the dishes.

Wozniak, that chubby little guy, went to work at HP as usual, while Steve Jobs...

But he followed Ethan into the kitchen.

At first, Ethan was a little puzzled, but after he asked Jobs what was wrong while washing the dishes, Jobs didn't try to hide anything. Leaning against the door frame, he said directly, "Ethan, I did a simple calculation last night. The cost of a computer motherboard made with 6502 should only be $250, while the price of a computer motherboard on Altair is $397."

"I think you understand what I mean, right?"

Jobs winked at Ethan: "I just discovered that Stephen's computer has extremely high commercial potential, and then you're saying that the 6502 has an even bigger commercial scope?"

"Wow~ What a coincidence!"

"Besides, I think only half of what you just said is true, right?"

"Using 6502 for games? No! No! No! That's too extravagant!"

"So... what you really want to do is create computers, right?"

"uh-huh?"

Ethan smiled and shook his head at such a direct question.

"Oh—Steve—" he drawled.

He then placed his hands on the edge of the pool and exclaimed, "I really don't know what to say. I feel like we have an incredibly high level of understanding!"

Steve Jobs was right. If he really got his hands on the 6502, he would definitely prioritize supplying it to Apple.

The reason is simple: it maximizes profits.

Think about it, a computer motherboard equipped with a 6502 can sell for over three hundred dollars, while a game console can only sell for $199.

Given the same CPU price, anyone would know that the former earns more.

As for why the core selling point of a game console is games?

The core selling point of a computer is its software!

The profit margin for office software can be just as high as that for games.

Therefore, Ethan wouldn't even consider such a fruitless question, especially since he wants it all right now.

In this situation, following the course of history, squeezing profits from computers when CPU prices are relatively high, and then repeatedly reaping profits from game consoles after CPU prices drop, is what a businessman should do!

If I had to describe it, it would be like touching the body of an ancestor from a past life to cross a river.

"Yay!"

Ethan's admission delighted Jobs, "This proves we share the same vision!"

Before he finished speaking, he clenched his fist with one hand, pressed it down, and made a cheering gesture towards Ethan.

I hope you succeed!

"I'm waiting for your good news!"

"Wait!" Seeing that the other person was about to leave, Ethan quickly called out to him, "Don't be in such a hurry to leave."

"Since you've asked me a question, let's be fair, I'll ask you a question too."

"Go ahead," Jobs said indifferently. "Any question is fine."

"I'd like to know, why do you sell computers? Is it because it's profitable?"

Yes, Ethan has always been curious about this.

In his memory, the media in his previous life always said that it was inevitable for Jobs to create Apple because he wanted to change the world since he was a child, but this kind of standard American Dream rhetoric... no one would believe it!

After all, Steve Jobs wasn't some rich kid!

It's understandable for someone like Ralph Bell, who has already achieved financial freedom, to talk about dreams.

Even Steve Jobs, who was on the verge of survival, was talking about dreams?

This is utter nonsense!

How can you dream of a bright future when you can't even afford to eat?

This is so sublime it makes me want to cry!

So when Steve Jobs finally broke the ice, Ethan wanted to know what the guy's original intention was in founding Apple.

Upon hearing his question, Jobs blinked immediately, puzzled, and said, "Ethan, don't you know? I'm about to lose my job..."

"what?"

Ethan was somewhat surprised. "What did you say?"

Steve Jobs repeated, "I said I'm going to lose my job."

"Because Nolan is preparing to sell Atari."

"What???"

This news made Ethan raise his voice.

He looked at Old Joe with a puzzled expression. "Nolan's going to sell Atari?"

"When did this happen?"

It's no wonder Ethan was so surprised, because in his memory, Atari's most famous achievement wasn't opening the door to video games with the arcade machine "Pong," but rather, while bringing joy to the people of North America, it also personally closed the door with "E.T."

The Atari crash is a story that veteran gamers have probably heard.

But now, Jobs is telling him that Nolan Bushnell is planning to sell Atari.

This……

"Doesn't the Atari crash have anything to do with Nolan Bushnell at all?"

Although Ethan knew that such a thing was indeed possible, he still felt that something was wrong.

As he showed his confusion, Jobs shrugged and explained the whole story.

It turns out that after Milrova formally sued Atari, Atari's top management was in a state of despair.

Because everyone knew this was a case they were destined to lose, and Atari would definitely exit the game by receiving a hefty fine.

Although Atari and Milrova eventually reached an out-of-court settlement through Nolan Bushnell's efforts, the fact that they could not release new games for a year left Nolan Bushnell somewhat disheartened.

He wanted to sell the company while Atari was still valuable, so as not to leave with nothing after bankruptcy.

Within days of the lawsuit ending, he had already contacted several buyers, including Disney and MCA, who were all very interested in Atari.

Disney, in particular, has a natural advantage in arcade marketing.

Disneyland is the perfect place in the world to house arcade machines because it has the world’s most open-minded fan base with purchasing power that no other group can match.

Disney offered 20 million to acquire Atari, which had some value.

In order to compete with it, MCA, which also wanted to enter the gaming field, offered 22 million.

Nolan was close to agreeing at the time, because that way he could at least leave with 15 million dollars.

"but……"

At this point, Steve Jobs shrugged and said, "An unexpected thing happened."

"Nolan sent me to the trade show just to write my own sales pitch, but I never expected to find you there."

"When Nolan saw Snake Game, he wanted to close the deal first."

"He believed that a successful agency deal could make Atari more valuable."

"And now, that's when Atari is most valuable."

Ok!

Ethan understood.

No wonder that when Nolan Bushnell and Don Valentine were being confronted by him during contract negotiations, they immediately changed their agency agreement to a one-year term. At the time, he thought he had intimidated them with his domineering aura, but little did he know…

So all they wanted was to increase the company's value?

No wonder Nolan Bushnell was unusually quick to pay when he asked for his share of the profits...

This is probably an attempt to show the giants that Atari maintains a good cooperative relationship with him.

Oh--

Business is business!

Thinking of this, Ethan shook his head with a sigh.

"So, you want to find a way out for yourself? You want to start a company?" He refocused his gaze on Jobs.

"Of course!" Jobs nodded. "I've already realized that someone like me is only suited to starting my own company."

"It's impossible for me to work."

"Because I always think the boss is an idiot."

"Alright," Ethan nodded, and said, "One last question, when did you find out about this?"

This question made Jobs frown. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Ethan, I swear I only heard about this this month. And it wasn't Nolan who told me; it was a friend of mine, a friend at the MCA."

"Please forgive me, I cannot reveal his name because his position in the MCA is rather special."

"All I can say is that I have a very good relationship with him, but because it involves trade secrets, I have to keep it a secret for my friend."

"Okay, Oaky, you misunderstood. I didn't mean to blame you. Thanks for the message." Ethan explained after hearing Jobs' words, adding, "Good luck. Don't hesitate to ask if you need any help."

"Thanks, brother." Jobs breathed a sigh of relief and raised his right fist. "I won't hold back."

"Please make yourself at home." Ethan didn't even wipe his hands and bumped into him directly.

When the crisp snapping sound rang out, both of them laughed.

Then, Steve Jobs left home.

As for whether or not to go to work?

Ethan didn't know either.

However, when the sudden roar and excited screams appeared together, the wailing and childish hysteria made Ethan Jones sigh repeatedly. He never expected that the birth of Apple would be so hasty, let alone that the way he intervened would be so simple.

"Does this mean I've got it?"

"I guess so, I guess so?"

Ethan Jones muttered to himself.

His eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.

But the next second, he became a little annoyed.

Because he always had this feeling, this feeling that Nolan Bushnell had tricked him.

"I hope this is just my imagination."

Note: ① After Miróvar sued Atari, Nolan wanted to sell Atari; this is a real-life event. The reason is quite simple: Nolan wanted to give Atari a powerful backer because he felt he couldn't withstand Miróvar's lawsuit. As for Disney, that's also simple: Nolan is a huge Disney fan, and he went to California hoping to find a job there, but he didn't succeed. Even after failing to find a job and failing to sell the company, when he finally sold Atari and reopened his restaurant, the logo was still a rat. This truly shows how deeply he loved it.

(End of this chapter)