The next day is Wednesday, September 11th.
Simon rushed to San Francisco early in the morning. At the same time, Tinker Bayer also held a press conference at nine o'clock in the morning to officially announce an acquisition plan with Apple involving a total amount of US$4 billion.
Public opinion was immediately in an uproar.
Apple's current state of decline is well known. In the past two years, it has even become a company that industry media likes to criticize and ridicule. As Microsoft's natural monopoly advantage of the Windows operating system gradually becomes clear, and the Wintel alliance becomes more and more entrenched, no one can now I don’t think Apple, which relies on PowerPC architecture and lagging Macintosh system, can buck the trend and make a comeback.
Unexpectedly, Tinker Bayer, who has emerged as a rising star in recent years, would suddenly make this move.
As the press conference was held and the press release was released on various platforms, a large number of targeted comments first appeared on the Internet. Most professionals and non-professionals were almost unanimously not optimistic about the acquisition of Tinker Bayer and believed that this acquisition He is actively soliciting a burden.
You know, although Apple's market value as of yesterday's close was only $2.1 billion, it is an old American electronics giant that has been established for 20 years. Currently, Apple's annual revenue still reaches tens of billions of dollars. In addition to various types of personal computers, and also involves more than ten product lines such as servers, printers, tablets, and digital cameras.
Even if this year's success of iRec and the continued surge in sales of iCam and iPlayer products make Tinker Bayer's annual revenue growth expected to reach 60%, the company's annual revenue will only be about US$20 billion. Two companies with a huge disparity of more than 100 times in market capitalization actually only have a two-fold difference in revenue.
This is enough to show that Apple's skinny camel is bigger than a horse.
The industry generally believes that Tinker Bayer's acquisition of Apple is likely to expand its product line in the shortest possible time.
This is definitely a stupid move.
Because in addition to serious mistakes in its core personal computer business, another important reason why Apple has reached this point is its uncontrolled expansion. It seems that 'a hundred flowers are blooming', but in fact, most of the peripheral product businesses that are eager for success are in a state of loss.
As the core PC business declines, other peripheral product lines have become a burden causing a domino effect.
Of course, there are also smart people who have thought of the real purpose of Tinker Bell or the Westeros system to eat Apple, for patents and the entire PC industry. Even though Westeros Company is one of Microsoft's major shareholders, the friction and discord between the two parties is not a secret.
Therefore, many professionals have also written articles analyzing the fact that Tinker Bayer's acquisition of Apple is likely to join forces with Ygritte to enter the PC industry to avoid encountering the constraints of Microsoft in Internet terminal equipment. Similar discussions have also aroused widespread heated discussion, but most of the tendencies are still not optimistic. After all, Microsoft's advantage in the operating system market at this time is really too great.
All these disturbances are directly reflected in the North American stock market.
When the news of the West Coast acquisition was officially announced, it was already noon on the East Coast. As of the close of trading at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Apple's stock price soared 19% in one day, with its closing market value reaching US$2.53 billion. The single-day market value increase reached US$400 million. Tinkerbaer's $2.8 billion acquisition offer was only $300 million short.
Because the market is generally not optimistic about this acquisition, Tinco Bayer's share price fell by 2.7%, with a closing market value of US$272.3 billion. Although the stock price shrank by only 2.7%, due to the huge size of Tinker Bayer, the market value has evaporated by US$7.55 billion. Based on the closing market value of the day, it is almost equivalent to three Apple companies.
At the same time, Microsoft was also affected by the media's analysis of the purpose of this acquisition.
At the end of the afternoon that day, Microsoft's stock price fell 2.5% in a single day, with a closing market value of US$269.7 billion. Microsoft shareholders also lost US$6.9 billion in one day.
In fact, Tinker Bayer's overtaking of Microsoft's market value during this period has also been one of the hot topics of discussion in the media, because the market value of the two is similar, showing a tug of war, and both are hitting the US$300 billion mark.
It has to be said that Microsoft, which was supposed to be the leader in the new technology wave in the original time and space, has been deprived of so much luck by the Westeros system this time, so that it will be difficult for the next highest market value to be the same as before. That breaks the 60 million mark.
Now, although the true intention of this acquisition has not yet emerged, Microsoft has been affected. It is easier than the outside world to guess the purpose of Simon's acquisition. It is difficult for Damen classmates to calm down. After lunch on the West Coast, Simon has just waited with Girl C. As soon as the person left the restaurant, the other party's phone came.
After connecting the phone, Simon did not avoid Miss C and others. He continued to walk to a conference room in the Tinker Bayer headquarters building and said into the microphone: "Hi, Bill... Of course, what else would I do if I bought Apple?" ... Of course I have not forgotten that I am also a major shareholder of Microsoft. However, Bill, do you think it is a good thing for Microsoft to completely occupy the operating system market... Let's not argue about this. You have to understand that I am not overly suppressing Microsoft's network business. It’s because I know that if an industry wants to develop and progress, competition is the best catalyst, so what you have to do is wait to meet the challenge instead of trying to stop others from competing with you.”
Putting away the phone that he hung up on his own initiative, Simon just smiled, and a group of people also came to the conference room.
Several heads of the desktop Linux operating system development team at Yigrit also arrived at the same time. Everyone sat down in the conference room and started the afternoon's topic: combining the upcoming Apple and the operations that Yigrit has accumulated for several years. As a result of system research and development, we developed the Linux version of personal computers of the Tinker Bayer brand.
Simon sat down at the conference table and naturally took the initiative in the meeting. He spoke first: "Everyone already knows the content of this meeting. Regarding the Tinker Bayer personal computer development plan after the acquisition of Apple, the tentative name is For the iMac series, this is one of the many trademarks that Tinker Bayer has applied for. I will only say two points. First, the iMac series will use Igret's Linux desktop operating system. Second, this personal computer gives up Apple’s original PowerPC architecture uses Intel processors.”
After Simon finished speaking, more than a dozen executives from Tinker Bayer, Apple, and Igret started talking in the conference room, and there was a buzzing sound around them.
After knocking on the table a few times to attract everyone's attention, Simon looked at the people around him and said in an unquestionable tone: "This is the final decision, and between now and next Easter's spring conference of Dinko Beyer, you guys We only have 7 months, and I don’t want to hear your objections. In this meeting, I just want to hear you discuss how to get this done.”
"But, Mr. Westeros," an executive from Apple couldn't help but said: "It is simply impossible to complete a personal computer that adapts a new operating system and a new processor architecture in 7 months. .”
Simon glanced at Peter Bakar, Apple's vice president in charge of the R&D business of the PC department, shook his head and said: "Not just 7 months, to be precise, 5 years and 7 months, because of Igret's research and development of the Linux system. It can be said that it started 5 years ago, and the desktop operating system version of the graphical interface was based on the X86 architecture from the beginning. Before that, Yigrit had completed the prototype. If you are willing, you can see it tomorrow. arrive."
"Mr. Westeros, I still think you are oversimplifying the problem," Peter Bakar still shook his head and said: "If he is willing, a senior computer engineer can spend several years developing the operation from scratch. System design is a set of prototypes, but this is a different concept from a personal computer that can be sold to the market. The research and development of a mature personal computer is a systematic and huge project. For example, how to solve the problem with software? Mr. Westeros, do you think about it? Have you passed?"
Not even Apple’s chairman and CEO attended this meeting, but Peter Bakar was invited. It’s not without reason.
The other party was an unofficial promotion candidate who was carefully screened by Girl C and then submitted to Simon for his decision.
Therefore, Simon was very patient with Peter Bakar and nodded again with a smile: "Of course I have considered it, Peter. Since a few years ago, Igret has quietly cooperated with SUN to develop JAVA. The software platform is planned to be used for the development of Linux system software. I think you are very clear about the advantages of the JAVA language. And next year, when the iMac is launched, the mainstream application software on the market, especially the Internet-related software under Igret, will Launching Linux version."
Peter Bakar was speechless for a moment when he heard what Simon said.
Suddenly a little sad.
If... Apple's recent leaders could have the vision of the young man opposite them, how could Apple, which he had served for more than ten years, fall to this situation.
Thinking of this, this middle-aged man in his forties and wearing thick rimless glasses suddenly couldn't help but want to say something from his heart, so he said: "Okay, Mr. Westeros..."
"Peter, you can call me Simon."
"Well, Simon, actually I want to say that although this is inappropriate, Microsoft has left us too far behind. Instead of... maybe it is better to use Microsoft's Windows system directly."
"From a purely commercial perspective, this is of course the best choice," Simon nodded slightly and said, "But, Peter, I acquired Apple just to open up a new path that belongs entirely to the Westeros system outside of the Windows system. operating system platform. In order to avoid possible constraints from Microsoft and retain the platform position of user terminals, this is what both Yigrit and Tinkerber must do."
Although Peter Bakar is obsessed with technology, he is not ignorant of corporate strategic considerations. Simon explained it this way and quickly understood. Since the young man had considered it to this extent, he said nothing more.
7 months is 7 months, nothing more than a hard fight.
In the following hours, everyone began to speak freely about the iMac plan, such as R&D budget, team size, product positioning, etc.
When the meeting ended, everyone realized that it was past six o'clock in the afternoon and the meeting lasted for more than five hours.
Simon simply invited everyone to have dinner together, and then he took girls A and C out of the Ygritte Park in Mountain View City and rushed to the mountain villa in Woodside on the other side of the city.
Inside the black Mercedes-Benz car.
Girls A and C sat on either side of Simon. Girl C held Simon's arm affectionately and leaned against the man. There was a bit of coquettishness in her expression: "Boss, you haven't congratulated me yet."
Simon felt the feminine fragrance coming from around him and asked with a smile: "Congratulations for what?"
Claire expressed her half-hearted resentment: "Congratulations on becoming the third richest person on last month's Forbes list!"
"Well, congratulations, super rich Miss C."
"Um."
Girl C was immediately satisfied, her head still resting on Simon's shoulder, and she quickly said: "Boss, I also attended B's wedding last Saturday, and D."
"Have you caught the bride's bouquet?"
Claire moved her head, but did not leave Simon's shoulder. She seemed very dissatisfied: "Boss, do you want me to grab it?"
"Yes, there are too many women around me, and I want to get rid of some so that I can find new girls."
Claire finally raised her head and looked at Simon again: "Boss, do you want to drive me away?"
Simon put his arm around the girl's waist and patted her: "As long as you are both fine, remember, when you find a boyfriend in the future, you must watch your wallet and don't be cheated. If you get married, remember to sign a prenuptial agreement. I don't want that. It’s crazy to see that I helped you make so much money, only to have it defrauded by another man.”
Girl C pouted slightly: "Boss, you still don't believe in people's hearts."
Simon nodded: "Yeah, I don't believe it, so I won't force it."
Girl C leaned back on Simon's shoulder and said carefully: "So, boss, where are you and your wife?"
"Me and Jenny," Simon said without hesitation, with a smile on his face: "Actually, I am the passive one, very passive."
Girl C blinked and suddenly smiled again: "I understand."
Of course Simon knew what Claire was thinking. He shook his head slightly and said with a smile: "No, you don't understand."
"Of course I understand."
"No."
"certainly."
“…”
On the other side, Girl A, who was quietly listening in, also raised the corner of her mouth unconsciously.
Back at the mountain villa in Woodside, in addition to the waiter team who arrived in advance, Girl D also rushed over after work, and little Jenny who rushed up to beg for a hug as soon as Simon got off the car. The girl entered Stanford in 1991 , not only completed undergraduate and master's studies in just five years, but also became D girl's right-hand assistant on Instagram in the past two years.
However, the 23-year-old girl was only 155 centimeters tall when we first met, and she is still so small now.
Simon easily held little Jenny in his arms, held her up and weighed her, and joked: "She still hasn't grown taller, she just seems to have gained weight."
Jennifer Bray wrapped her arms and legs around Simon like a little koala, and kissed Simon on the face while acting coquettishly: "It won't grow any longer, and my type can also make you change your taste, Simon, and, fat A little bit, actually it feels better.”
Simon pretended to be disgusted and avoided the girl who had kissed his cheek and then approached her for a kiss. He came to the living room, left the girl on the sofa, and then greeted Girl D.
I have been away from the United States for more than half a month, which is considered a long separation.
So this night was a bit ridiculous.
Although he pretended to be disgusted, Simon still felt more towards the women who had been with him for many years. Late at night, he also taught the women a Chinese poem while depicting Girl C’s fair and naked back.
A lonely white rabbit walks here and there. The clothes are not as good as new, and the people are not as good as old.
After some explanation, a little made-up story was added. After hearing the story, little Jenny burst into tears and expressed that she wanted to tattoo it on her body. Simon recommended the sole of the foot, indicating that other areas belong to Westeros and graffiti is prohibited. .