Chapter 39: Product Launch

There was a buzz surrounding the so-called product launch event, drawing many companies to attend. Due to the circumstances, the event had to be relocated to a hotel. White Software, at that time, wasn't very big and didn't even have a meeting room for a few dozen people. Facing hundreds of clients, they really had no choice. The software was indeed quite rudimentary, but this was not the fault of White Software. The hardware technology was simply not up to the mark; many features would only be available in version 2.0. Despite this, the computer manufacturers had no objections and, in fact, felt delighted. Each company was developing new computers, so once they understood the software's minimum requirements, they could surely cobble together a new machine. They didn't care if it only barely ran on the Apple II. What mattered more to them was the price. You see, software for large databases could be incredibly expensive. The same was true for systems on smaller machines. If the price was too high, there would be no incentive; they might as well stick with smaller systems, since the performance varied. William White announced a price that raised eyebrows; although the next versions would cost more, this one was only $299. "Well, how much can you really raise it?" one attendee joked. "From what I gather, future versions might run under a thousand bucks. This is professional software, and no company has ever sold it this cheap. Looks like some established firms are going to be pretty upset." Though they weren't as advanced, those companies had all the essentials, plus features that White hadn't even considered. At the event, there were no doubts about their design capabilities anymore. Not only was this version announced, but they also unveiled plans for the next version. The upcoming 1.1 version was already powerful enough, and it clearly indicated just minor upgrades. The 2.0 version could potentially overshadow the database of smaller machines, so they'd better brace themselves. Logically, revealing the next version wasn't necessary; it was just pie on paper. Bringing it out now felt a bit like putting on a facade. The main issue was that there were too many guests; the original setup was perhaps too basic for such a large crowd. Most importantly, William White simply loved to stir the pot. ... The atmosphere in the hall was chaotic; several folks were just there for the free snacks, like Bill Gates, who sat staring off in a corner. Among the attendees, people had mixed feelings, and an unsettling number were clearly unhappy. This software company had stirred the waters so much that it was impossible for the big players to ignore; they were now openly targeting the smaller systems. If they didn't respond, there could be serious consequences. Many chose not to attend the later networking reception, but William White wasn't concerned. They probably had little interest in socializing anymore. In fact, he had become a prime target for acquisition by many companies. Anyone could see that White Software's valuation was only going to rise. If you missed the chance to buy in now, later it would be completely unaffordable. Nobody questioned William White's technical skills anymore; his fingers flew across the keyboard without hesitation, just practice. ... "William, can you guarantee the pace of development?" he had a confident inquiry from one of his colleagues. "Steve, I could push it even faster. The hardware just isn't up to snuff." "Up to snuff? Sounds like something only you would say." Jobs looked doubtful. "Don't worry about that. Let's celebrate early -- how about a drink?" William suggested, patting Jobs on the shoulder. "Sounds like a plan!" The two of them erupted in laughter, leaving others puzzled. ... They were enjoying themselves while others were feeling left out. This world works that way; some folks are too caught up in other people's successes to see their own flaws. However, not everyone was like that; some, like Bill Gates, learned from the successes of others. He quickly readjusted his mindset and recognized there was a bright path ahead. Simply relying on compiler licenses wasn't going to cut it; he needed to lock in target users like William White did. Once he achieved a certain user base, he could make money selling anything. The number of end-users was looking substantial, and it was only going to grow; staying aligned with the larger masses was crucial, otherwise, they risked being sidelined. ... William felt good lately; he had successfully shaken off his financial worries. Whether in film or software, profits were flowing in every minute. This year, he also had a film coming out. Those Hollywood moguls must be losing their minds. With these two hits, life was about to get a lot easier. Little did he know, they were already becoming unhinged. Their gamble of stretching small budgets was proving outrageous. Each day, as box office numbers rolled in, not a single major player failed to vent their frustration. In contrast, they appeared foolish; all the big productions and Oscar talk now looked ridiculous. Their shoddy films were breaking records left and right. But that wasn't all; the European market was booming too, particularly with that British crowd proclaiming it as art. They bragged about how the British style was conquering Hollywood. "Give me a break!" How could one actor from their side make it a whole genre? Such insecurity! And what's with the talk of art? How could they interpret so much out of something so trivial? A ridiculous movie turned into art? How could they elevate it to such heights? Sure, the film did give a voice to minorities, skewering the American government; there were a few good people, but it definitely leaned toward catering to the African American community. The Brits didn't see it that way; they considered the director an artist, proud descendants of British nobility. Through humor and satire, the film exposed the darkness of America. This artistic expression was hailed as reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin, and they suggested it be nominated for an Oscar. William White nearly fainted at that. He had no intention of running for an Oscar; those claims were beyond absurd, and he had too much pride for that -- even if he had to admit he was a bit shameless, he still had his limits. After all, he was a descendant of several generations of immigrants. Who could mistake him for a nobleman? He must have been quite adored! ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.