Chapter 866： One cent can't be less

The lawsuits filed by Sony Records, BMG, and EMI on the grounds that Fireflyer promoted the spread of pirated music were rejected by the Federal Court of San Francisco, which indicates that this electronic product has a formal legal market position. With the unstoppable momentum of the Fireflyer player, traditional portable music player manufacturers are almost destined to suffer a strong and even devastating impact.

Stimulated by this news, the New York Stock Exchange just opened, the stock price of traditional portable music player manufacturers led by Sony has dropped significantly. At 9:00 am Western time, the Federal Court of San Francisco officially held a press conference. Announced this news, Sony's share price has fallen by 2.7%, within a few hours, nearly $1.5 billion in market capitalization. Coincidentally, the authoritative financial newspaper "Wall Street Journal" has a potential valuation of Firefly Electronics of $1.5 billion.

Although Firefly Electronics is not a listed company, this news has been shown in disguise on the stock market. That is the first Seagate technology company in the industry to develop a 1-inch micro hard drive.

In the original entrusted development agreement, Firefly Electronics enjoyed the exclusive power of the micro hard disk for three years since the company released the first product related to the micro hard disk. Accordingly, Firefly Electronics must also purchase micro hard disk products from Seagate Technology.

As the largest mechanical hard disk manufacturer in the original time and space, Seagate's strength at this time is far from being comparable to traditional technology giants such as IBM, Hitachi and Toshiba. Last year, Seagate’s mechanical hard disk shipments were only 5 million units, less than 10% of the overall market share of mechanical hard drives.

Although the development of micro hard disk is not very difficult, IBM and other hard disk manufacturers with deep technical foundations may only need half a year to come up with mature products. However, due to the early occupation, they have priority with fireflies. The cargo agreement, Seagate Technology, is destined to become the main supplier of Fireflyer's built-in micro hard drive in the next few years, and the extent to which Fireflyer's sales capacity can burst, almost no one can be sure. Although the price of micro hard disk is much cheaper than traditional hard disk, with the advantage of quantity, Seagate Technology's micro hard disk business will even reach the scale comparable to traditional hard disk.

After a series of news releases on the day, while the stock prices of traditional portable music equipment manufacturers such as Sony fell across the board, Seagate Technology’s share price was a blockbuster, and it jumped 12% in just one morning. Perhaps it was to further stimulate the stock price, Seagate. The CEO of the technology company held a special meeting at noon that day to show the media the sample of 2G capacity micro hard disk that Seagate has successfully developed, and said that this product will probably be used in the next generation of Fireflyer player.

When the market was ups and downs by Fireflyer-related news, there was an unexpected episode. A newspaper in New York dug up the news that Firefly Electronics first contacted IBM and hoped to entrust the other party to develop the micro hard disk. Due to IBM's arrogant and slow response, the invitation to cooperate was finally lost.

In recent years, under the leadership of the new CEO Gerstner, IBM has begun to recover, but the situation is far from the same, and now there is a tendency for Microsoft to support the market value. Although the hard disk manufacturing is only the edge business of the IBM Group, the news of the internal problems of the IBM Group revealed by the news has forced the traditional high-tech giant to be cautious. IBM CEO Gerstner then even appeared in person. The media has defended this 'small thing'.

Farm in Jeffrey, Maryland.

Although it is harassed by various news from time to time, the small farms like the paradise still present a happy atmosphere.

The wedding will be held on the large lawn behind Jeffrey's house. In order to cater to the schedule of most of the guests, the wedding ceremony time is chosen at 11am tomorrow, instead of the traditional afternoon. The wedding scene on the lawn has been surrounded by flowers at this time, and some people are still carrying out the final inspection on the scene, and the air is filled with pleasant floral fragrance.

Eric and Chris are welcoming the guests who are still coming, except for the guests who will arrive tomorrow, there will still be some distant customers coming here, such as Kasenberg, Victor McNealy, Bill. Olsen, Jeff Bezos, etc.

Although it has already entered the summer, the weather in the farm has no hot meaning.

I have been busy until two o'clock in the afternoon. I simply ate something. Eric was busy sneaking into the lawn behind the villa. The wedding ceremony was a simple rehearsal. Of course, it was mainly the rehearsal of the flower girl.

Although it is better to have a relationship with Emily, Joanna and Virginia are not suitable to be bridesmaids, but Joanna’s sister Eva Pakula will make this excitement.

Eric considered the two women and also resigned the role of Chris's chief groom, and gave it to Chris's cousin. However, the three little guys will be the flower girl and the boy in the wedding.

On the lawn, in addition to Joanna and Virginia, Jeffrey and Emily’s parents, Jack Brighton and Melissa Brighton, are also on the scene, and there are other relatives on both sides. Everyone smiled and watched the performance of five or six little guys.

Eric and Jeffrey greeted each other and went to sit next to Virginia and Joanna. Looking at the middle aisle, the wedding ceremonies racked their brains and glared at a group of restless little guys, laughing. Asked Virginia: "Isn't it a good idea to use a pair of flower girls to quit children? So many little guys, will you not be in trouble tomorrow?"

"This kind of thing, I figured out a little mess, everyone laughed and passed," Vignia explained the sentence, and added in a low voice: "So many friends and relatives, only two children, not well arranged ""

Eric nodded and glared at the attention of the little guys. He reached out and licked the waist of Virginia. He smiled and asked, "Envy?"

Virginia turned her head and stared at Eric, with a smile on her lips, saying, "Envy is dead, what are you going to do?"

"Or we have a wedding, I haven't taken a wedding photo of three people, you are with Joan."

"Hey, you bastard, too lazy to toss with you," Virginia snorted low and leaned against Eric, raised her left hand and shook the ring finger on the rose gold ring inlaid with rubies. , said: "I have discussed with Joan. If you are not good to us in the future, we will both go to Europe with Kevin and Xia Xia and will never see you again."

Eric smiled and said: "You two still secretly plotting this kind of thing?"

"Yeah," Virginia said with Eric. "And, you still have to pay for the maintenance. One billion dollars a year, one cent can not be less."

"Wow," Eric said, "shocked," and said, "Trembling," said: "How did you figure out this number?"

Virginia is very confident: "Of course it is calculated casually."

"If I don't give it?"

"I and Joan will find a new father for Xia Xia and Kevin."

Eric immediately raised his hand and surrendered: "Okay, I admit defeat."

Joanna, who had been listening to the two men’s soft conversations, reached out and said softly: "You don't want to talk nonsense."

Virginia smiled and reached for Eric. She looked at the baby son in the field and said, "I have something to discuss with you. Kevin and Xia Xia should go to school. There are no suitable schools in Hampton."

Eric thought for a moment and said, "If you want to move to Manhattan, there are more private schools there."

Vignia shook his head and said: "I and Joan are both used to live in Hampton, and Manhattan is too busy."

"Then we can't just run a school for two little guys alone?"

Eric’s unintentional words just happened to poke into Virginia’s heart. The woman said, “Why can’t I, Rockefeller set up a school for several of her children, the Browning Private School in Manhattan, now you Isn't the net worth worse than the Rockefeller family?"

Eric shook his head: "It is not just money to run a school."

Veginia insisted: "In any case, you can pay for it, and the rest of me and Joan will do it myself."

Eric had to compromise. He knew that Virginia and Joanna were more important than themselves in the education of a pair of children, so there was nothing to worry about. "Okay, I am paying, how do you want to get it?" Row."

I was busy preparing for the day, and many people didn’t have a rest that night. The next day, the sky was just lit up and the farmhouse was once again bustling.

After the breakfast time, guests who lived in downtown Frederick began to arrive because of the limited space in the farm. Although the wedding is not as grand as the so-called 'century wedding' that many rich people brag about, the number of guests adds up to two or three hundred. The three hours before the wedding began, the farm is already full of people.

Frederick was only sixty kilometers away from Washington, DC. At nine o'clock, the Clintons arrived on the farm by helicopter.

Although Chris is not a public figure, his wedding has attracted a lot of media attention because of his reputation in the North American business community in recent years, coupled with the large number of heavyweight guests present.

Although the entire farm is a private territory, it is not too easy to stop journalists from sneaking into sneak shots. Eric only thinks that the biggest advantage of the Clintons is that they don't have to worry about blocking the media reporters who want to spy on the wedding. Secret Service agents scattered around the farm volunteered to help them do this.

Everyone wanted to completely privatize the wedding and did not accept any media interviews, but since the Clintons arrived, the White House hoped to have media reporters present.

After a brief negotiation, Eric arranged for ABC TV, The New York Post and the Washington Post to come to the wedding scene. ABC Television is the industry of the Firefly Group. The New York Post is part of the News Corp., and the Washington Post is introduced by Warren Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway is the majority shareholder of the Washington Post.

At eleven o'clock, all the guests sat down, the music sounded, the best man, the bridesmaid and the flower girl appeared one after another. Eric sat close to the aisle and watched his pair of children walk in the front, Kevin's hand. Holding the ring pillow, a small appearance of seriousness, this is obviously the result of repeated teachings by Virginia. Hawaii is holding a small flower basket, and the eyes are still very curious to look around. Emma behind Hawaii is excited. Throwing the petals, it seems that the end of the red carpet is not at the end of the red carpet, the little guy's flower basket will be empty.

Later, the groom entered the etiquette, and everyone immediately rose to welcome the bride.

In the eyes of everyone, speeches, oaths, exchange of rings, hugs and kisses, a series of wedding processes were completed quickly. When all the ceremonies were over, Chris and Emily left to take photos, and the guests began to leave the wedding scene and rushed to the nearest place. Open air banquet venue.

Eric just got up, Emma, ​​who was wearing a pink flower girl's skirt, rushed over. Compared to a pair of children, Emma seemed to stick herself. Watching the little guy stretch his arms to hug, Eric smiled and reached for her.

"Dad, I have petals, so sweet," the little guy rubbed Eric's neck in one hand and spread the other hand, sending the palm of his hand to Eric's nose: "You smell."

Eric smelled in the little girl's hand and nodded: "Well, it's really fragrant, Emma is also very fragrant."

"Oh," Xiaotou smiled happily, and turned to his little belly, saying: "Dad, I am hungry."

"Oh, I’m going to eat soon," Eric said, seeing the Clintons coming towards themselves, and handing Emma to Joanna, who was next to him, and greeted him.

Clinton swept his eyes and looked at the two women and the three little guys. He took his eyes back and looked at him with a smile. "Eric, you will definitely stay in Maryland for a few days, right?" ”

The Firefly Group of the Firefly System, Nokia, Cisco, Qualcomm, AOL, Firefly Electronics, Amazon, and other companies have gathered in Maryland, and Joma Ollila even flew from Northern Europe. Great movements, it is natural for everyone to simply eat and drink and leave.

Eric naturally has a detailed plan, and then everyone will stay in the farm for at least three days to discuss the development of the companies in the firefly system and the synergy between them.

I don't understand why Clinton asked this question. Eric nodded. Anyway, this is not a secret.

When Clinton saw Eric nod, he said, "This is the case. I am planning to hold a high-tech entrepreneur dinner at the White House. I don't know if you are not interested?"

Although it is impossible to re-elect, the Clintons apparently have not given up their righteous ambitions, which is also proven in Eric’s memory. The Firefly Investment Group has gathered a group of Internet high-tech enterprises that have been the most popular in recent years. If they can recruit these enterprises, they will definitely form a strong boost to their continued use in the future.

Eric is just a bit of a spit. If you say this, if we are not interested, will you do this dinner or not?

However, he certainly would not do such a boring thing to deliberately slap the president, and soon nodded and smiled: "Of course, Bill, I will tell them, but we will probably stay in Maryland for three days."

"Oh, time is right," Clinton said with a faint smile on his face. "Yes, you will come over when you arrive, right?"

Eric is not so refreshed this time. He is really not flustered by the Clintons. He is ambiguous: "Maybe, I have too many things recently, and I may not be able to spare."

Clinton didn't mind, patted Eric's shoulder and said, "I hope you can come when you want."