The Intel-compatible software follows Apple's launch of the MacBook laptop and a new iMac (pictured), first of a new generation of Macs featuring Intel processors.

QuarkXPress 7 will be available in beta for both Intel and PowerPC format Macs by the end of this month, with the production version following later this year.

"The powerful combination of Mac OS X, Apple hardware and QuarkXPress 7 will ensure a publishing solution for world-class design," said Ron Okamoto, vice-president of worldwide developer relations at Apple.

Free beta versions of QuarkXPress 7 for Power PC-based Macs and Windows are available at http://euro.quark.com/en/7beta.

The iMac starts from 929. The 15.4in MacBook Pro, available from February, starts at 1,429.

The new iMac and Macbook laptop, which were also launched last week, are the first of a generation of Macs running on Intel processors.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said the new iMac was up to twice as fast as its predecessor and will "knock customers' socks off".

Quark has also teamed up with educational software distributor Douglas Stewart EDC to launch the Quark Classroom Pack.

"Children's computer skills improve on a daily basis and we are finding primary-school children are designing newspapers and magazines," said Quark European marketing manager Gavin Drake.

"There are thousands of secondary schools and the market is potentially absolutely huge. We aim to bring publishing and design to the national curriculum."

The 1,750 package is approved for the national curriculum and includes 40 licences, project tutorials and a hands-on project for designing a canteen menu.

Imac and Macbook Features
- 1.83 GHz Intel core duo processor

- Built-in iSight video camera for conferencing

- Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger", including Front Row, Photo Booth and Apple Remote

- 512MB DDR2 RAM