The good news for Mac users is that there's no news. The "Mactel" machines run Mac OS X just the same as older PowerPC models, only faster. There's nothing new to learn, and no adjustment period. A piece of software called Rosetta, built into Mactels, supports older Mac software written for PowerPC machines, so users aren't forced to replace any of their applications.

Is the world ready for Mactel? It better be, because come Jan. 10, that name could very well become synonymous with the historic shift taking place in the PC industry.

Apple is considering closer ties with Intel — even making a line of machines that run on Intel's microprocessors.