Is Sun going to die soon?
Not if it merges with Sony, according to this article. Hmmm, sounds like it might actually work. Another way to "bet the company" is to make Java open source, but that probably wouldn't produce any revenue. How about buying/marketing/selling JBoss? Hmmm, not much profits there either I bet. There's got to be something that folks are still willing to buy in this God-forsaken piss-poor economy... What could it be?
One way to do that is through a merger, but the logical merger partner isn't Apple, it is Sony. The two companies have been talking about some kind of strategic alliance. Maybe these are merger talks. Sony is incredibly strong, having just posted its biggest-ever profit. Sony leadership is changing, making possible a bold move as the new management tries to put its own stamp on the company. Sony has both the resources to support Sun and the need for technology Sun can provide.