Could the apple factor make amd go mainstream? Just because it is apple you know.
General geeks are not wooed by apple. Amd hate threads would take to a new level also.
What about samsung?
Apple could make the most use of AMD of any possible investor/merger partner/buyer.
AMD already has more experience with fusing GPUs and CPUs than any other company in the world, and that's what Apple needs to do to differentiate their ARM designs from others. AMD, with Apple's massive cash pile, could also once and for all vanquish Intel in x86 processor design - they'd actually have a LARGER R&D budget than Intel! And even if Intel could somehow revoke the x86 processor license, a merged AMD/Apple juggernaut would simply design 64 bit ARM-based cpus. (Not to mention, Apple would also get Jim Keller back!) Basically, Apple could sew up the entire computing gamut from the smallest smart phone to the world's fastest x86/GPU-accelerated supercomputers. But because this would finally once and for all guarantee Apple's final victory over Microsoft, Intel, Google and Samsung, and vindicate the perceived wrongs perpetrated against Steve Jobs, and cement Apple's dominance as the world's technological overlord for at least an entire generation, and guarantee that the iconic Apple logo would be visible on most of the devices, tablets, notebooks, desktops, and supercomputers we'll see in everyday life.... it probably won't happen! Still, it would be the smartest 'check-mate' move for Apple to make (they could buy AMD with pocket change right now and barely feel it) and certainly, Rory Read's clearing of the decks (layoffs to thin the company out) could be congruent with a preparation for a merger...
Really, my favourite scenario is an AMD/nVidia merger, so that Jen Hsun and the AMD team can take the fight directly to Intel using Steamroller x86 cores and AMD/nVidia optimized graphics cards/APUs. This would be the most dramatic and satisfying scenario for AMD. nVidia has enough money in cash to properly finance the next generation of x86 processor cores (as well as next gen ARM/fusion designs). Finally (and yes, I'm aware of the price implications of this), a combined AMD/nVidia would have a lock on the dedicated graphics card market, which would give them the money to finance their future together against Intel and other opponents.
As much as I have had issues with nVidia over the years, I see this as dramatically better than an AMD bankruptcy.