[Duvi]

I have two windows 7 machines and a windows xp, but no apple.

I'm actually going to be running virtualbox to get mac OS, will I be able to install the dev tools as well?

[flyingember]

you have to have a Mac. It has to be on an Intel CPU as well.

I wouldn't trust a virtualbox of it either unless you can be 100% sure you can do USB bridging to the virtual machine

[travisdunn]

I would never, ever consider developing for the iPhone on a non-Mac OS. There are just too many unknowns when testing or dealing with the framework features that I can imagine running into trouble sooner or later.

[xSwift]

Get an iMac or a MacBook, you will never look back

[Microcosmos]

Technical Requirement:
To develop with iPhone SDK you must have an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X Leopard.

Sign up to become a Registered iPhone Developer - Apple Developer Connection

I was about to start a thread on this very topic saying how poopy that is! (on the one hand, on the other if I wanna do some iPhone programming then I have a great excuse to get a new laptop! )

[leaf]

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain!" (Just be sure to put your iPhone away in a safe, dry place first.)
I think so too!

[App Anarchy]

I haven't run Mac OS in a virtual box but it might be good enough to learn Xcode and the SDK. My Dell Mini 10 Hackintosh runs Xcode just fine but I only use it when I don't want to carry my MacBook. I agree with the others that you will need to get a Mac to do actual development.

[flyawaymike]

Get an iMac or a MacBook, you will never look back

or even cheaper, a mini, and get a cheap switchbox to share an existing monitor.