How long would it have taken to get BeOS on Intel to OS X 10.5 level?
Or, perhaps Apple was considering switching earlier than they did. Maybe they thought G3->G4 was going to experience the problems that didn't end up cropping up until G4->G5.
Apple was working on X86 compatibility as early as Mac OS 7 in 1992. [1]
I don't think it'd matter for the future of Apple though. Since Steve had purchased Pixar, he had that 'in' for the entertainment industry and he was able to squeeze both music and film to get content for his iPod. Once they put the iPod on Windows Apple became a far more profitable media company.
The iPhone just further cemented Apple's position as the device people want to carry to consume media. I don't see how going with Gasse or Be would have made the Apple of today possible.
Or, perhaps Apple was considering switching earlier than they did. Maybe they thought G3->G4 was going to experience the problems that didn't end up cropping up until G4->G5.
Apple was working on X86 compatibility as early as Mac OS 7 in 1992. [1]
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_project