ChangeWave recently conducted two surveys that gauged computer-buying plans over the next 90 days -- a period running from the holiday shopping season into the first quarter of 2008. It polled members of its alliance, which includes technology and business executives with leading companies in select industries.

The latest ChangeWave consumer poll found that 29 percent of likely notebook and desktop personal computer buyers in the next 90 days are planning to get a Mac. That's higher than consumer purchase intent for HP laptops (21 percent), HP desktops (24 percent) and Dell laptops (28 percent). But Dell had higher demand for its desktops (3 1percent).

The trend line is clearly up for Apple, notes Investor's Business Daily. Two years ago, 16 percent of likely notebook buyers and 11 percent of desktop personal computer buyers planned to buy Macs. Demand for Macs has risen steadily ever since. Analysts credit the "halo effect" from the company's iPod and iPhone. Apple shares ended Friday at an all-time closing high of 194.30, up 129 percent for the year.

"The appeal of Apple's computers has expanded beyond the base of Macintosh loyalists and into the general public, Tobin Smith, founder of ChangeWave, told Investor's Business Daily. "These are not just the Mac-heads who are buying.

More consumers are buying Macs because they're turned off by personal computers using Windows, he added. Complaints about the latest version of Windows, called Vista, and positive reviews for Mac OS X 10.5 9 ("Leopard") have fueled Mac sales, Smith told Investor's Business Daily.

Nearly one-in-four respondents (24p ercent) of the most recent poll, completed in early November, say that the release of the Leopard operating system makes them more likely to buy a Mac in the future. A separate ChangeWave poll of corporate computer buyers found increasing demand for Apple as well. For companies planning to buy computers next quarter, seven percent of laptop buyers and six percent of desktop buyers plan to get Macs. That's up from four percent of laptop buyers and three percent of desktop buyers two years ago.