In a surprise move on 12 April Apple Computers, the maker of Macintosh computer and iPod digital music player, announced a new software that enables its computers to run Microsoft Windows operating system. Two decades after the arrival of Macintosh Apple is offering users its latest release Boot Camp software that lets customers to run Windows XP alongside Apple’s own program Tiger in an easier way on the same machine. After installing Windows XP via Boot Camp the user is asked to select one of the operating systems at the startup. It will run the programs made for either Mac that uses Intel Corporation’s microprocessors or Windows.

Many perceive this move on Apple’s part as an attempt to increase its market share worldwide from the current value of around three to four per cent. Earlier, despite the phenomenal success of iPod, that saw sales over 40 million units all over the world, it could not give much boost to Apple’s market share.

The present move is embraced with great enthusiasm by market watchers. Apple believes that the move will make its latest Macintosh more attractive to the customers who were earlier choosing computers supporting Windows, though they liked Apple’s more stylish look. The Wall Street analysts and computer industry experts also greeted Apple’s decision as a great and potentially remunerative one. Estimating the profit Lehman Brothers analyst Harry Blount commented that this decision would bring a long-term benefit for Apple.