Looking at the words on the fax paper, just thinking for a moment, Bill Gates said, "Intel, Simon, you mean Microsoft and Intel?"

Simon nodded, "That's right." ”

Bill Gates suddenly showed a disapproving expression and said: "Simon, Microsoft and Intel have been very good partners since 1981, and you don't need to remind you of this. ”

"Of course I do. However, it is similar to IBM forcing Intel to license the X86 architecture patent to other vendors. Next, if IBM also feels that Microsoft threatens its own initiative and introduces other operating systems to divert Microsoft's market share, what are you going to do then?"

At the end of the seventies, Intel introduced powerful X86 architecture processors. In order to prevent Intel from becoming a monopoly, IBM forcibly asked Intel to license the X86 patent to more than a dozen companies. As a result, although Intel has been able to produce the best performance processors over the years, its market share does not have much advantage in the field of processor chips.

Thinking of IBM, a behemoth with a market value of more than $70 billion after the stock market crash, Gates was a little silent for a while. Even Microsoft and Intel together are now worth less than $5 billion. If IBM really takes measures to restrict Microsoft, it will not have much power to fight back in front of IBM.

Seeing that Gates was silent, Simon continued: "So, just a simple partner will definitely not work. Microsoft and Intel must be tightly integrated into a technology alliance that allows users to choose one and the other. The graphical interface operating system is destined to be the future development trend of the PC, and Microsoft has already taken a certain lead. After all, the core patent of X86 is still in the hands of Intel, compared with other chip manufacturers, it also has a lot of advantages, if the two of you join forces, a few years later, even in front of IBM, you should have a fight. ”

Bill Gates said: "It may be a good idea, but Intel doesn't necessarily want to tie itself to Microsoft. ”

Simon shrugged and said, "That's your business, I'm not Microsoft's largest shareholder." ”

Bill Gates thought for a moment and said: "Even if your idea can be realized, everyone is not a fool, if Microsoft and Intel do this, IBM and other manufacturers are likely to kick both of us out." ”

Simon said: "This goes back to the products of the two of you. Intel's processors are definitely the best on the market, and the company holds core patents, and the chances of being completely excluded from the market are very low. In comparison, Microsoft's foundation is indeed too shallow, and the operation interface of the indos system is still imitating Apple's Macintosh system, if Apple suddenly turns its face, there may not be indos3.0 in the future. ”

Hearing Simon's words suggesting that Indos was plagiarizing Apple's computer operating system, Bill Gates's expression was a little unpleasant, but he still said, "Can you solve this problem?"

Simon laughs, "It just so happens that I also bought a 4.9% stake in Apple, and lo and behold, that's the benefit of having a lot of money." If there is friction between Apple and Microsoft in the future, I think I can still help mediate. ”

Although he is also a billionaire, Gates now has more than 95% of his net worth in Microsoft stocks, and only a few million dollars of funds at his disposal. In addition to the inevitable jealousy of Simon's huge wealth, Gates even felt a little absurd.

Young people who are not yet twenty years old have earned a fortune in a year that is beyond the reach of others in several lifetimes.

What the hell is wrong with the world?

Is it like the operating system, there is a bug?

After a moment of struggle, Gates spoke again: "Simon, if you insist, I can agree that you personally join the Microsoft board of directors, not some unknown lawyer in New York." ”

"I'm too busy to fly to Seattle to attend Microsoft conferences," Simon shook his head decisively and said, "Bill, James is my spokesperson, and I will use him to keep abreast of Microsoft's business and make my own suggestions." ”

"You have to make sure that he doesn't interfere with Microsoft's corporate decisions. ”

"Of course, even I wouldn't," Simon nodded, "Actually, I'd be happy to give advice, but I'm not too fond of lobbying a person to agree with me." With Microsoft, the most direct way for me to express my intentions is to buy or sell, it's that simple. I can even transfer to you the voting rights of the shares held by Westeros if you want. ”

Bill Gates was not polite at all: "Really?"

"Of course it's true, but in exchange, sell me some more shares in your hand, 5%, 9% off the market price, how about it? Bill, you're already a billionaire, you definitely need a little more cash, right? A public sale would be restricted by the SEC's reduction, and a private transfer would be fine. When the time comes, I will grant you all the voting rights of 10% of the shares held by Westeros. ”

Bill Gates looked at a certain guy looking like a wolf grandmother, almost subconsciously shook his head, and said, "Sorry, Simon, I have no plans to sell shares for the time being, you want more, you can absorb it from the open market." ”

The two chatted, and lunch was quickly served.

After an exchange, although it still felt a little weird, Bill Gates unconsciously let down his vigilance against Simon, and the atmosphere of the subsequent conversation became relaxed. Now that he has achieved his goal, Simon also appropriately revealed more thoughts about the Intel alliance.

After lunch, Simon and Gates parted ways and returned to the company's headquarters, and the time was already more than two o'clock.

As soon as he walked into the company's office building, Amy appeared in front of him with a script. Simon saw the script that Amy handed over, and a strange expression immediately appeared on his face.

"Rain Man".

Don't.

It should be your own, can't you escape?

was going to go directly to the editing room, and when he saw the script of "Rain Man", Simon took Amy to his office. Sitting down behind his desk, Simon had already restrained his surprise and opened the script with great interest, waiting for Amy to take the initiative to explain.

Amy sat down across from the desk and said, "Simon, this is what Michael Ovitz just sent me, a story about the brotherhood of autistic people. He also called, but you weren't there. ”

Simon asked, "He wants us to invest?"

Last Friday, Simon asked Amy to let out the news that Westeros was planning to invest in film projects, and "Rain Man" apparently came to the door just that.

Amy nodded and said, "Actually, I've heard about this project for a long time. Since last year, Ovitz has been promoting the project of "Rain Man". It is said that when Ovitz was a psychology major in college, he participated in public welfare activities to help people with autism, and he was very touched by this, so he liked the script very much, and also brought Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise into the main roles. ”

Simon opened the script in his hand and asked, "There should be no shortage of investment in the project of Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, right?"

Amy said: "The story lacks commercial selling points, Hoffman and Cruise do not agree to reduce the salary, the budget cost needs to be 25 million US dollars, no one in Hollywood is optimistic about this project, Warner, Universal, Paramount and other companies all rejected the script, and several first-line directors have also chosen to quit after taking over one after another." In the second half of the year, Spielberg had already agreed to direct and help raise funds. However, he also announced his withdrawal recently, and the public reason was to direct "Raiders of the Lost Ark 3", but I think Steven should also be optimistic about this project. ”

Simon smiled: "Then why did you bring it to me, you really treat me as a fat sheep?"

Amy also smiled and said, "Now Luen Mei has taken over the project, but they want to find other investors to share the risk." Ovitz heard that we were interested in the rights to The Hobbit in the hands of United States, and he said on the phone that if Daenerys Pictures was willing to commit $10 million of the investment, he could help convince United States to transfer the rights to The Hobbit to us. ”

Simon looked at Amy and said, "What do you mean?"

Amy shook her head and said, "It's too risky, and I'm not in favor of investing either." However, because it is related to "The Hobbit", I will show you this. Now that Ovitz has spoken, he must be sure to help us get the copyright to "The Hobbit". Moreover, there should also be room for counter-offer for the $10 million investment share. ”

Worried that he would be too sharp in Hollywood, Simon originally planned to let go of "Rain Man", the 1988 North American box office champion in the original time and space. But. In the past year, Simon's behavior in Hollywood and Wall Street can no longer be described as simply too sharp, and there is no need to be too restrained now.

Having made up his mind, Simon closed the script and said to Amy, "I'll read the script tonight and get back to Ovitz tomorrow." ”

Amy nodded, said something else, and said: "The few actresses you fancy have all rejected the invitation of "Instinct", Simon, and then we can only choose the heroine from the second and third-tier actresses." ”

Due to the scheduled summer of next year, during this time, "Instinct" has been in full swing to prepare.

In addition to its own controversy and the gimmick of the erotic film, whether the actress who plays the lead role can spark with the male lead Michael Douglass and portray a strong, calm, and ruthless female writer is crucial to whether "Instinct" can achieve box office success.

Simon grasped the selection of the heroine from the beginning, and the first thing he liked was Michelle Pfeiffer, and after the script was handed over, he was rejected directly because there were too many nude scenes, and then he carefully selected several popular actresses to send invitations, but he didn't expect to be rejected.

Rubbing the script of "Rain Man" in his hand helplessly, Simon said: "Since this is the case, let's choose from the second- and third-tier actresses, and let the brokerage company send a list of candidates as soon as possible." The film will start filming in February next year, and we don't have much time. ”

Amy agreed, and the two talked about some more things, and they each went about their afternoon work.