Ten years ago Apple was in serious trouble. Mac sales were being eroded by cheaper clones from Power Computing and Radius. The company was running low on cash, its stock was trading for around $5 a share, and it was hunting for a new CEO to replace Gil Amelio.

Then Apple received a much-needed infusion of cash--$150 million--from a seemingly unlikely source: . The deal was negotiated by then-Apple adviser Steve Jobs, whom the Macworld Expo faithful booed at the deal's announcement. Shortly afterward, Jobs took over as Apple's "interim" CEO. We all know what happened after that.

If Microsoft hadn't ? We'd be struggling to play WinTunes on our WinPhones. The online music and video markets would be stagnant--or worse, controlled by Hollywood. And we'd be longing desperately for better alternatives to Windows.

When not looking back with 20-20 hindsight, Contributing Editor Dan Tynan tends his geek humor empire at . Follow him on Twitter @tynan_on_tech.