Michael Dell, the chairman of the world’s largest makers of PCs, told a journalist that his company might be interested in adopting Mac OS, a thing Apple’s chief calls “the soul of the Mac”, provided that Apple Computer decides to sell it as a separate product.

“If Apple decides to open the Mac OS to others, we would be happy to offer it to our customers,” Michael Dell is reported to have written in an email.

This is the first time any PC industry executive has openly shown enthusiasm for selling machines with Apple’s software, notes Fortune columnist David Kirkpatrick. Earlier, representatives for PC makers were pretty cautious in their claims regarding operating systems alternative to what Microsoft offers. While Linux has gained popularity in servers, the vast majority of desktop computers sold still use Microsoft Windows operating system, which gives Redmond, Washington-based software giant ultimate influence over PC manufacturers.

Dell itself is pretty conservative company. For instance, the firm has refused to sell computers based on AMD processors citing issues associated with changes to manufacturing process and additional inventory. In case Dell introduces a lineup of PCs featuring Mac OS, the company is also likely to have to implement changes into its supply and support chain as well.

Numerous analysts and observers suggested that Apple might be interested in selling its Mac OS separately from its Macintosh computers , or, at least, give certain companies license to make Mac clones, after the company announced that it switches from IBM to Intel’s processors in early June, 2005. The assumptions have arisen despite of Apple’s claim that its operating system would only run on the computers made by the company.

Apple previewed a version of its operating system, Mac OS X Tiger, running on an Intel- based Mac to the over 3800 developers attending CEO Steve Jobs’ keynote address. Apple also announced the availability of a Developer Transition Kit, consisting of an Intel-based Mac development system along with preview versions of Apple’s software, which will allow developers to prepare versions of their applications which will run on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.