Interest is also growing among Windows users, who cite the operating system's unparalleled selection of software and want to port it to run on Apple's stylish hardware. A Microsoft spokesman confirmed that neither Windows Vista nor XP will work "out of the box" with the MacIntels. The reason, said Microsoft, is because Apple decided not to install a piece of firmware optional to EFI called a Compatibility Support Module that was available from Intel.

With Microsoft publicly taking a laissez-faire stance, grass-roots efforts have emerged to port XP over. One Houston enthusiast, Colin Nederkoorn, has put up a Web site, windowsxp.onmac.net, where he has raised about US$11,000 so far in small PayPal donations as a reward to anyone providing a solution. Progress so far has been slow. "The furthest they have gotten at this stage is to have Windows Vista crash while booting in Safe Mode and to load ELILO, but not much success beyond that," he said.

Virtual solution?

Some say the simplest way to get Linux or Windows running on the new Apple hardware is to wait for emulation or virtualization software. One small company, iEmulator.com, expects to bring its Windows emulation software to the Mactel machines by the end of this month, said John Czlonka, general manager for the Edmonton, Alberta-based company, though he acknowledged that there will be a heavy performance hit.

Virtualization market leader VMware Inc. is also "very interested" in bringing its software to the Mactel platform, although the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company has nothing to announce at this point, a spokesperson said.