Weideman, however, said that uncertainties over how the Apple hardware displays graphics will make porting Ubuntu "fairly complicated."

"It is an entirely new graphics chip set, which we are as yet unable to drive until such a time as ATI releases the specifications," Weideman said. Other drivers need to be verified through hands-on testing of the hardware, which Canonical does not yet own.

Still, Weideman said it's likely that the upcoming Ubuntu 6.10 -- which goes into development in April and will be officially released in October -- will run on Apple's Intel-based machines.

At least one version of Linux likely won't make it to Mactel hardware: Yellow Dog Linux, a popular distribution specially built for Apple's PowerPC Macs. It won't be ported to the IntelMacs, said Kai Staats, CEO of its maker, Terra Soft Solutions Inc.

Windows users want in on the action, too