In a stunning turn of events, now-former Apple Chief Software Technology Officer Avie Tevanian has accepted a position with Microsoft’s Windows Vista development team, Deep Thought has learned from a highly reliable source. Tevanian, one of the creators of the Mach nanokernel on which OS X is based on (or is that “kernel with video”?), will be placed in charge of Windows Vista development, and serve as Microsoft’s Platform Products and Services Group co-President. He will share the role with Jim Allchin.

News broke earlier in the week that Tevanian would be leaving Apple to “pursue other interests.” Clearly, we now know what these other interests are.

“This development could be devastating to Apple and give Windows Vista development a much-needed boost,” A.P. Rulfulse of research firm Lawson, Mayer, Aldridge, and Owens LLC told Deep Thought late Friday night. “It has the potential to kill Apple’s momentum, however we feel that Apple’s talent pool remains very strong,” commented George Otcha, analyst with Ronald-Otcha Technology Forecasting.

Apple, Microsoft, and Mr. Tevanian were unavailable for comment.

Deep Thought’s Take: Hmm, maybe Microsoft knows what they’re doing after all.