BTW, the notion that iPod will have any major effect on Mac sales is absurd.

I am not so sure... Of course, buying an Apple laptop just to support iPod is absurd, but the gadget could prompt people to investigate other Apple products. I, for example, went to Apple site another day (prompted by all the iPod buzz here) just to start drooling over specs of a titanium cased, PowerPC G4 based, Mach3/BSD OSS OS running laptop with a monster display. I never before considered buying an Apple (and worked extensively only on an original ][ several geological eras ago), so I didn't follow their products closely. Now I am seriously tempted...