Readers split on MS-Apple deal

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NEWS.COM readers rallied to the question: "Has Microsoft saved Apple?" Here are a few excerpts from readers who said "no."

"Negative"

Too little, too late
"It won't help unless...Mac has to change their operating structure to suit the needs of the programming environment. Who in their right mind would want to develop in it?"
-- Calista Lambsworth

"Apple is suffering from the same disease IBM contracted, a swelled head and super ego, "No one can topple us!" syndrome. Remember, there are still some people using the Commodore 64 computer."
-- Dennis Dowhy

"This is perhaps at best a leg up for Apple. At worst, cynics might say Microsoft has a bargain--the mind share of Apple (and its avid aficionados) for a paltry few dollars."
-- David Lynn

Investment helps Microsoft, not Apple
"$150 million wouldn't be much money for Bill Gates to personally invest, so I'm sure it's not that big a deal for Microsoft?They might only want to keep Apple out of Ellison's hands."
-- Andy Glover

"It's Mr. Bill's way to own an Apple. If you can't beat them--buy them!"
-- Ed W Hutchins

"This is not a vote of confidence from Microsoft. It's to save their butts from gaining the last 5 percent of the desktop and unquestionably being a monopoly."
-- Alfred Sanchez

"Microsoft will have no problem making their software for Macs, it just means Apple users will adjust to using Microsoft's software, and moving them to Intel will be easier later down the line."
-- Bryan Murphy

Conspiracy theories
"I think this investment is an opportunity for Gates to get Larry Ellison (Oracle) out off the race."
-- Renco Hatenboer

"Microsoft did this to undermine Oracle and Sun and had no other real motivation."
-- Jamie Wilson

"What a patronising (sic) question. If YES - you contend that Apple HAD TO be saved. If NO - you contend that Apple is beyond saving ?? Well, your question is Has Microsoft saved Apple ? And my answer is NO - Microsoft has not saved Apple. Apple saved itself. Get a life."
-- Colin Rose

"Microsoft is like a fungus, it never stops encroaching."
-- Al Lambinus

Readers' solutions
"What Apple needs is Steve Jobs or someone else with our love and loyalty (Luke Skywalker maybe?) to keep the reins and make Apple unique and innovative again. Take risks. Better to go down in a blaze of glory while reaching for the golden ring than the long slow death watch of the last three years..."
-- Brenda Cooper

"Personally, I think that Apple's not going to be saved by anything short of divine intervention."
-- Skylar Primm