Power Computing emerges as major force at Macworld. (Macworld product announcements)(Product Announcement)

Power Computing Corp. will upstage host Apple Computer Inc. and roll out a low-cost line of PCI-based Macintosh-compatible systems, as well as a new licensing agreement with Microsoft Corp., this week at Macworld.

Power Computing would not comment on its Macworld announcements, but sources familiar with the company's plans said the agreement could include rights to bundle Windows 3.x and Windows 95 -- along with a DOS compatibility card -- with the company's systems.

At the same time, Power Computing will formally introduce its Power Curve series of 601-based systems equipped with the PCI bus architecture, sources said.

Systems will cost about $1,700 for a …