[tormeh]

AMD's licenses from Intel have some strings attached. I think they basically cannot be bought while keeping the rights to x86. A bought AMD could possibly threaten to no longer grant licenses to Intel, but I'm sure Intel's lawyers have thought of that.

Apple buying Intel could work, I guess (anti-trust might get involved), but I don't think it would be a wise investment. Apple doesn't have the volume to keep Intel busy alone.

[AmericanChopper]

I don't think they'd do it either, or that they'd even need to. I just think it's kinda funny that Apple has enough cash to outright buy both Intel and AMD.

[rasz]

Apple doesnt need x86, almost nobody needs it anymore. Buy AMD, keep AMD64, throw away 32bit.

[scotty79]

Apple could buy Intel for the tech, AMD just to close it. Then stop selling CPUs or licences altogether. Just ramp up selling Mac's. Then PC dies. :)

[danmaz74]

That's exactly the reason why anti-trust regulations exit.

[scotty79]

Yup. It's not something that could realistically happen. But in truly free market it could.

[InitialLastName]

If only! Think, if we lived in a genuine free market, what glories we could see. All hail the monocorp.

[scotty79]

I'm always amused how true "free market" apologists argue that:

a) monopolies don't arise b) are good