Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Ethan's Vacation - Part 2
The slightly chubby general manager nodded, "Actually, on the day we released the MOS 6502, Motorola had already received the news. They were very angry at the electronics exhibition where they had a booth and found us, demanding that we stop infringement."
"But after Mr. Chuck Peddle and Mr. Robert Galvin made a phone call, their attitude changed. They publicly announced at the exhibition that they would lower the price of the 6800 in the next few months."
"I don't know what happened, but after that, Chuck Peddle asked me to give you this business card."
"He said, Motorola's CEO Robert Galvin wants to talk to you."
"As for whether to accept?"
"You decide for yourself."
'Is he trying to be intimidating?'
Ethan felt he understood.
But when he made the call, curious and prepared, the voice on the other end was unexpectedly gentle.
"Ethan Jones? The inventor of 'Snake Game'? Good afternoon."
"Yeah~ Mr. Galvin, I'm Ethan. Is there something you want to talk to me about? Since we don't know each other, and I sort of took business from Motorola, I'll be straight. If you want to criticize me, we can start now."
"Oh, Ethan~ Do you think I called you to yell at you?"
"Mr. Galvin, I don't think I can come up with a second reason."
"Hahaha~ It seems our Motorola's reputation isn't good. I just wanted to have a simple phone call with you, but I didn't expect you to think like this." Robert Galvin laughed on the other end, then said, "Ethan, don't be nervous. I'm not against you; I just want to get to know you, see what kind of young person is helping Chuck."
Seemingly aware that his words lacked credibility, he added, "Don't worry, on the matter of 6502, we at Motorola admit defeat. Since Stanford has intervened to resolve the issue, that market should belong to you."
'?' Ethan found this statement confusing. "Mr. Galvin, I don't understand what you mean."
"Don't understand? Oh—then you might not know my identity. I am the trustee of the Illinois Institute of Technology, and the library of the school is named after my father. Our school has deep cooperation with Stanford. We know what kind of people Prof. Barbara Babcock and Prof. Vinton Cerf are. So, you don't have to worry; I'm not as foolish as Atari."
Robert Galvin's words made Ethan smile.
He understood what the other party meant.
To put it simply, it was a mutual understanding; they were of the same kind, no need to fight over trivial matters.
The role of Robert Galvin's trustee was essentially an honorary leadership position. They would provide financial, strategic, and moral support to the school, promoting its development. At the same time, they would also have priority access to some of the latest inventions.
In simpler terms, this role was similar to the corporate identity in Fred Terman's university-industry cooperation plan. When companies continuously drew patents from American higher education institutions, they were more aware that high-tech was the foundation of development than ordinary people.
For Motorola, the current invisible chip market was irrelevant.
Ethan Jones could take it.
What really mattered was the future research results of major universities.
The reason for the communication between Robert Galvin and Ethan Jones was also simple.
Once Ethan embraced the thigh of Vinton Cerf, he had already obtained the ticket to enter top companies. The rest depended on whether he could obtain research results from Stanford substantial enough for commercialization. And anyone who tried to snatch the market from Motorola had ambitions to climb up, so even if Robert Galvin didn't know if Ethan could succeed—
"If you need a partner in the future, consider Motorola first."
"Whether it's electronics manufacturing or raising investments, we at Motorola excel at it."
"Oh, Mr. Galvin, thank you," Ethan replied with a smile.
Although Ethan appeared very gentlemanly, he didn't believe Robert Galvin's words at all.
In his view, this guy must have some ulterior motive.
After the Atari incident, he had remained vigilant at all times.
Those who could be treated with sincerity were only those research scientists passionate about technology. As for businessmen?
Kick them out!
After inspecting Chuck Peddle's company, Ethan once again arrived at the garage of his loyal Jobs family.
Ahem ahem…
This statement may sound a bit strange, but what can he do? It's all because Jobs decided to set up Apple's production workshop here.
And according to Ethan's original intention, he came to check the sales of Apple's first machine.
But when he knocked on the door of Jobs' house, the words that came to him were a bit bewildering.
"Oh, Ethan! We meet again!"
Jobs first gave Ethan a big hug.
Then the next second, this guy stood on his tiptoes, bouncing there.
His gaze also drifted to Ethan's back.
Then, a puzzled statement popped up, "Ethan? Aren't you here to deliver the machines today?"
"Ah? What machines?" Ethan looked confused.
"The signed arcade machine of 'Snake Game'!" Jobs, still hugging Ethan, released his arms, leaned back, and carefully observed Ethan's expression. "You didn't forget about this, did you?"
"Last time, didn't I ask you to find out why MCA would buy Atari at a high price?"
"Didn't I tell you then that my friend likes your game and wants a signed 'Snake Game' arcade machine?"
'…'
'Oh, darn! I forgot!'
Hearing Jobs mention this, Ethan was momentarily stunned.
But the next moment, he pretended as if nothing had happened and said, "The signed arcade machine of 'Snake Game'? Of course, I remember that! But I can't buy 'Snake Game' arcade machines now because I've terminated the contract with Atari, and no company is producing them..."
Ethan felt like a genius!
He could come up with such a perfect excuse effortlessly!
Just as he thought his words were seamless, Jobs blinked and said, "So how was the world's first 'Snake Game' born? Did it pop out of a stone like the monkey in Eastern mythology?"
'!'
Ethan was surprised; he didn't expect Jobs to ask such a question.
Staring at him for a while, he finally conceded, "Okay, okay, I did forget."
"I'll buy the materials when I go home later. Oh no, I'll call Frank now and ask him to deliver the materials to me. I'll try to make it for your friend tonight!"
Ethan felt that he was indeed in the wrong here.
Jobs' friend had done him such a big favor, and he forgot what the guy wanted?
This was really not okay.
But his conceding stance made Jobs chuckle, and he playfully punched his arm with a fist.
"Oh, brother, look at how scared you are! Forget it if you've forgotten. Besides, he changed his request anyway."
"What do you mean?" Ethan didn't understand.
"It's simple. My friend's original purpose was just to meet you, get to know you. He wanted to know what kind of person developed 'Snake Game.' But because MCA wanted to acquire Atari, and you had conflicts with Atari, he didn't feel comfortable meeting you."
"But now, MCA has given up on Atari, and Atari has been acquired by Warner Bros., so..."
"He wants to meet you."
Jobs spread his hands, saying, "It's that simple."
"Warner Bros. acquired Atari on September 28th, right?"
"He called me on the same day."
"He said that whenever you're free, let me take you to Los Angeles to meet him and hang out."
"How about it? Are you going?"
"Oh, that's how it is?" Ethan understood and laughed. "Sure, why not."
"Okay, let's go now." Jobs immediately pushed Ethan out. "Drive straight to his place."
"So urgent?" Ethan was surprised. "And does he have time today? Can we just go and meet him like this?"
"Of course!" Jobs said. "He's a director; work comes in bursts. When he's busy, you can't find him, but when he's not, he's like you, wandering around every day."
"He's a director?" Ethan realized.
The next moment, he frowned again. "Steve, who's the one wandering around everywhere?"
"Brother! I'm not idle! I need to work!"
Jobs laughed at such shameless words.
"Yeah~Yeah~Yeah~"
"You need work~"
"But your biggest job is watching others work~"
Before the words could settle, he propped open the door of his Ferrari, got in, and flipped the car door.
Touching the steering wheel, he said, "Where are the keys? Let me borrow them~"
"I haven't driven a Ferrari yet!"
Note: In reality, the acceptance of the MOS 6502 was due to the price drop of Intel 8080 and Motorola 6800. Before their price drop, no one really believed that CPUs could be so cheap. Motorola initially didn't take the CPU market seriously. Chuck Peddle and others left Motorola, but before they left, Motorola already planned layoffs and disguised it as relocating factories. Robert Galvin felt that CPUs were just an experimental market, not a promising one. At that time, they had already invented the mobile phone (1973) and obtained a mobile phone patent. From this perspective, Motorola's judgment was not wrong. However, their chip business regretted it after stagnating for only two years. In that year, in order to make phones, they even sold off their TV business to Panasonic. The relationship between the Illinois Institute of Technology and Stanford has been mentioned earlier in the text, as the Stanford Research Institute was almost established by them.
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