In a 1983 interview, Stanley Kubrick made an unusual holiday wish: he wanted a "fortune computer" that ran Unix for Christmas. At first glance, this request might seem a bit eccentric, but it reflects Kubrick's fascination with technology and his forward-thinking mindset, which is often evident in his films. This seemingly offhand remark points to Kubrick's awareness of emerging computing trends and his understanding of the role they would play in shaping the future.
To give some context, he was referring to a workstation produced by Fortune Systems Corporation. Fortune Systems was a manufacturer of high-end Unix workstations in the early 1980s, a time when personal computing was just beginning to make its way into homes and businesses between 1980 and 1987.
Fortune Systems Corporation was at the forefront of creating workstations for professionals who needed more power than what standard personal computers of the time could offer. Their machines, such as the Fortune 32:16, were known for running Unix, an operating system that had been developed in the 1970s and was primarily used in academic and industrial settings due to its stability, multitasking capabilities, and suitability for complex computing tasks. By making Unix-based systems more accessible, Fortune Systems appealed to businesses and tech enthusiasts who wanted cutting-edge technology without relying on the mainframes that dominated the market.
