No. It's impossible to trade (even infinite amounts of) money for calendar time or supply access.
Any moves Apple made now would wind their way through ASML et al., through fab construction and qualification, and then finally adapting their chips to a new process.
They could pull the trigger on the Power to Intel because they'd spent a decade+ of contingency planning, OS/app support, and acquisitions.
Can we be sure Apple hasn't been quietly building a fab or at least fab expertise somewhere in the bowels of Cupertino? Do we have enough insight into ASML to be sure they haven't purchased even older fab equipment?
fabs take years to build. The only real option Apple would have is some kind of joint venture with Intel and maybe try to bring in the US Department of Defense or US government in general to push the whole chip national security talking point and get more funding
TSMC has a market cap of $356B and maybe $30B in cash. Apple has a market cap of $3.25T and over $200B in cash. Surely you are overlooking a possible option here, which is Apple acquiring TSMC. I don't see it as likely, but it is an option.
Well, I think that's their leverage (if they have any). They kick the can, wait, take the hit, and then in the meantime make it clear that next time they'll have their own fab. In that scenario TSMC is looking at demanding a 6% hike vs jumpstarting competitors in other countries.
Maybe it's unrealistic but it wouldn't be the first time something like that happened in a market. The political conditions aren't unfavorable either.
> bring in the US Department of Defense or US government in general
This is a guaranteed route to introducing even more delays, cost overruns, schedule overruns, onerous requirements, intrusive oversight, and about a trillion meetings and studies along the way.
If you want to go fast, stay far far away from the USG.
ethbr0|3 years ago
Any moves Apple made now would wind their way through ASML et al., through fab construction and qualification, and then finally adapting their chips to a new process.
They could pull the trigger on the Power to Intel because they'd spent a decade+ of contingency planning, OS/app support, and acquisitions.
This isn't like that.
bombcar|3 years ago
ren_engineer|3 years ago
Maursault|3 years ago
TSMC has a market cap of $356B and maybe $30B in cash. Apple has a market cap of $3.25T and over $200B in cash. Surely you are overlooking a possible option here, which is Apple acquiring TSMC. I don't see it as likely, but it is an option.
derbOac|3 years ago
Maybe it's unrealistic but it wouldn't be the first time something like that happened in a market. The political conditions aren't unfavorable either.
Perceval|3 years ago
This is a guaranteed route to introducing even more delays, cost overruns, schedule overruns, onerous requirements, intrusive oversight, and about a trillion meetings and studies along the way.
If you want to go fast, stay far far away from the USG.