Technology pundit Robert X. Cringely has weighed in on the big news this week with the conclusion that "Appleis decision to use Intelis processors is nothing less than an attempt to dethrone Microsoft." And to accomplish that feat, he sees the two companies merging, despite his observation that a marriage between Apple and AMD, which makes better chips with lower prices, "makes far more sense than Apple and Intel any day."
In Mr. Cringelyis view, this drive to defeat Microsoft outweighs the sales loss that he foresees Apple suffering over the next year and overwhelms such questions as "What happened to Appleis 64-bit operating system?" and "Is this all really about digital rights management?" (Cringelyis answers to those queries: Intel will create a version of its Itanium chip for the new Macs and Apple could probably implement that without Intel.) This decision, he says, "is simply about business -- BIG business."
Mr. Cringely believes that "Intel hates Microsoft," simply because the latter doesnit produce enough innovation to drive the need for faster processors, which Intel requires to fuel its sales. And with Microsoft turning elsewhere for Xbox 360 processors, Intel has one more reason to turn to Apple and "take back control of the desktop from Microsoft." He also expects a merged Intel/Apple to sell the Mac OS to other computer makers, something Apple currently says it wonit do again. "If Intel was able to own the Mac OS and make it available to all the OEMs, it could break the back of Microsoft."
"Thatis the story as I see it unfolding," Mr. Cringely concludes. "Steve Jobs finally beats Bill Gates. And with the sale of Apple to Intel, Steve accepts the position of CEO of the Pixar/Disney/Sony Media Company."