The Next Round in the Virtualization Wars 355
GvG writes "After making Virtual Server available for free some time ago, Microsoft announced today it is offering Virtual PC as a free (as in beer) download. They also announced a change to the Vista license related to virtualization: Customers who deploy Windows Vista Enterprise have the ability to install up to four (4) copies of the operating system in a virtual machine for a single user on a single device. Even better, nothing in the license requires that Microsoft Virtualization technologies be used - if you want to use a competing product as your Virtualization solution, you still get the four extra licenses for use with VMs."
What about XP? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Virtual PC for Windows only FREE (as in beer) (Score:1, Insightful)
OSS is working (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Sorry Mac Users (Score:5, Insightful)
Shouldn't it be illegal for Microsoft to 'dump' products for the express purpose of driving their competition out of business? I know it's not normally, but they should change the rules for someone convicted of abusing their monopoly.
Re:Sorry Mac Users (Score:4, Insightful)
Four *extra* licenses? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Virtual PC for Windows only FREE (as in beer) (Score:5, Insightful)
Stupidly clinging to one position no matter what variables change is something that politicians do that makes me absolutely sick. For some reason, geeks have adopted this kind of cult like mentality too. Ignore changing circumstances and stick with your original position at all costs.
In every race, opponents change positions. Sometimes one opponent has the lead, sometimes another has the lead. In the case of tech, however, the race just keeps on going, and there will never be a 'winner' per se, just back and forth trade-offs in leadership.
Up to four? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:[: == FreeBSD + VMware == :] (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Patches (Score:2, Insightful)
Interesting (Score:5, Insightful)
Interesting. I would have assumed that I could install any number of Vista virtual machines for my use on my single computer -- especially since only one (or two on a dual core) could be considered to be running at the same time. Now Microsoft is telling me only 4. Sure sounds like I'm losing, not gaining, here -- those bastards!
Re:OSS is working (Score:2, Insightful)
Uhm, no, Microsoft's not doing all that just to compete with Xen. Its real competition is VMware, which already is giving away some of its products away for free. And no, VMware's not doing all that just to compete with Xen either; its real competition is Microsoft.
Re:What about XP? (Score:3, Insightful)
Sure. But what about in 2 years or so? Vista may be a hog, but every year more resources are available.
Re:OSS is working (Score:5, Insightful)
What does MS have to worry about with Xen or VMWare for that matter if they give VPC away? You still need to have a valid licence to run Windows on it or VMWare. VMWare has little to worry about too. Where are you going to get support for Xen from? Does Xen even come close to providing what VMWare workstation or ESX can do?
People are only running scared from OSS in the minds of many Slashdot users and bloggers no one cares about.
Re:Yes. (Score:3, Insightful)
Thanks for the info. But do you know if bypassing the TMP (by removing the kext, presumably) is illegal under the DMCA? And can one get in trouble for that?
That would depend on whether you live in a country where the DMCA was applicable and enforced.
Not a monopoly? (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah, it's absolutely hilarious that people would claim that Windows a monopoly...
* 95% of your software no longer works (yes there are free alternatives to most things, but you already paid for a lot of expensive software so why can't you use it?)
* You can no longer play your favorite multiplayer game with your friends from university.
* Several pieces of your expensive hardware only has Windows drivers and now you can't use it.
* A few of your favourite websites (including your net banking) no longer work because of ActiveX, Flash 8 or severe rendering bugs.
* You can no longer watch the games/videos/greetings your family emails you as executable files (although this is arguably an advantage).
* If you are using a free operating system, you may have trouble installing software covered by patent laws (mp3 players for example).
* You can't access the files on your hard disk from another oprating system because Windows encrypted it (OK, this one hasn't happened yet, but I'm looking forward to it happening soon...)
Still laughing?
Abusing their monopoly? (Score:3, Insightful)
Actually no, before you needed one license per virtual machine.
But now the question I am wondering is:
Does the new licensing for Vista Enterprise only apply when using Virtual PC, or can you also install up to 4 extra copies when using VMWare's solution?
If it's only the former, it looks like another case of them abusing their monopoly. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are playing it fair this time, but does anyone know for sure?
Re:OSS is working (Score:5, Insightful)
Xen cannot run Windows (and 'we swear someone did it in a lab but we can't prove it or tell you how to do it' doesn't count). That means it is *not* a competitor for either VMWare or VirtualPC. In fact there's nothing in the OSS space that is.
Two different things... (Score:4, Insightful)
You do not need to be a lawyer to undrestand why Windows is so popular and manages to get such a huge share of the market. Microsoft has a monopoly because for many people, like it or not, Windows is the only choice, for reasons I listed in my earlier post. It is that simple. I am not judging whether this is good or bad, legal or illegal, I am just stating a fact.
I am not considering if they are abusing their monopoly, which is what I think you are talking about. This is a totally different, valid but more complicated question, and that is when the lawyers start getting involved.
you've gotta go buy an off-the-shelf PC that has a copy of Windows XP preinstalled
This isn't true, at least not in Denmark where I live. I can't remember the last time I bought a PC with an OS pre-installed.
Re:Not a monopoly? (Score:1, Insightful)
"Still laughing?"
Yes because you are a troll and a moron. Why you scored 5 is beyond me.
All your points are easily applied to Windows users upgrading to a new Windows versions! Have you ever upgraded from Windows 98 to Windows 2000 or Windows 2000 to Windows XP or Windows XP to Windows XP SP2!! Problems galore - hardware that fails to work even with a proper driver, software that no longer works so you are forced to upgrade to the latest version even though your version is suppose to work.
Please peddle your drivel somewhere else troll.