I doubt if he will go to apple. He must be bound by non-compete agreements.
That just means a six month vacation. Plenty of folks bounce around between the big cos.
The Microsoft employment contract has a one year non-compete clause. Microsoft has shown that it is willing to enforce non-competes and it is easy to do so under Washington State law.
That's why you file in California.
could yahoo be on the cards? marissa meyer made the move recently.