IBM may finally put Sun Microsystems out of its misery

International Business Machines (IBM) may buy Sun Microsystems (JAVA) to bolster its position in the server market. If so, it would end the smaller company's years of poor management, layoffs, and pain for shareholders.

According toThe Wall Street Journal, "If the deal does go through, which could happen as early as this week, IBM is likely to pay at least $6.5 billion in cash to acquire Sun." That would translate into an offer that is about double Sun's share price.