"I would predict though that if a Windows vendor like Dell or HP built a machine capable of running OS X that Apple may regret doing this as their hardware sales would go plummet"

This wont happen for two reasons:
1) Dell can't simply create a box that runs OSX, they would require a license from apple to use it on their machines, and that won't happen. (That's why you don't see any cheap PCs that can run OSX now).

2) even if Dell could build such a box (which they cant), Apple has always positioned itself as the "mercedes benz" of personal computers - people buy macs because they are quality machines, and becuase they love the elegence, style and attention to detail that apple provides. Dell simply cannot match apple in that regard.

Points to ponder:
Microsoft doesn't support Windows to begin with, it goes without saying that Apple wouldn't either.

As Apple made it very clear in it's website. "Word to the Wise
Windows running on a Mac is like Windows running on a PC. That means it’ll be subject to the same attacks that plague the Windows world." I think anyone dual booting will see in a very short period of time the obvious advantages of running OSX over Windows. So does Apple or they would have never released this software.

Finally, Saying that Apple hardware would stand up against PC hardware is a very blind and Windows biased statement. (No surprise) As with the iPod, consumers are not as dumb as you may have them be, once they get a chance to use an Apple computer and see the obvious advatages and beauty, like the iPod, the beige boxes will go the way of tthe Creative Labs cheap knock-offs...

Some interesting comments by an analyst:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1652

Last check ->> Apple stock up 6 bucks.

Asserting Apple system sales will 'plummet' is an interesting prediction... In my opinion this will only increase sales of Mac computers. Point is- the majority of PC users are yearning for a productive platform. When considering the purchase of a new system, having Macs as an available option will hurt traditional PC sales and manufacturers I would think.

-ptfigg.

This is not new. I still have my Apple Power Macintosh 6100/66 (a faster clock than the 6100/60).
It runs an OS 7.6/8 hybrid (my doing) and more importantly, has a dual board which allows Windows. Due to limits, I maxed it out on 3.11 for Workgroups.

I start it up in Mac, then hit Apple-Enter and BOOM I'm on the Windows desktop.

They only made them the one year (1995) but being able to copy things over on the clipboard from ClarisWorks on the Mac side to Word on the PC side alone is worth keeping it (though I have a few other favorite things to do with it involving Oscar in the trash, shufflepuck and Chip's Challenge).

Guess Apple is looking back...to the future.