Apple's shares surged as Wall Street bet the move would help Apple grow its current worldwide personal computer market share beyond the current range of 3 percent to 4 percent by attracting more business and home users.

By allowing Macs to run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows, the operating system found on more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers, Apple could woo people who want Macs, which are considered by many as easier to use and more stylish, but prefer the Windows operating system.

When Apple introduced its first computer based on Intel Corp. chips in January, the company said it had no intention of selling or supporting Windows on its machines, though it has not done anything to preclude people from doing it themselves.

"Ever since we introduced Macs using Intel chips, we've had some customers asking,'Hey, can you run Windows on these Macs as well?'" said Phil Schiller, head of worldwide product marketing for Apple.

Apple, which celebrated its 30th birthday on April 1, will move its entire Mac line to Intel chips by the end of 2007.

Users would have to get their own copy of Windows XP-the home edition retails for 199 dollars.

Apple, with about 3 percent of the worldwide PC market, said the"Boot Camp" software, available immediately as a download, enables Macs to run either Windows XP or the Mac OS X operating software.

(Agencies)