Microsoft News Tracker

Microsoft is never shy about reaching for the wallet to buy technology and the associated developer talent to embellish their offerings and this week’s shopping cart holds Rapt Inc,, an advertising yield software developer, and Kidaro, a provider of desktop virtualization management software.

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Over the weekend, I mentioned a NY Times profile of Microsoft virtualization software competitor, VMware, that seemed laden with “Microsoft is an unfair competitor” rhetoric. Today comes word that VMware has published a whitepaper on their website that could well be titled “J’accuse” which details Microsoft’s anti-competitive licensing and distribution practices related to virtualization. Most of what is mentioned is familiar to those who follow the industry, but having them lay out the 7 accusations so concisely makes one wonder when the next shoe will drop. As Mary Jo Foley remarks:

My biggest question, after reading The Times story and the VMware white paper is when will VMware file a lawsuit? It sounds like VMWare — in spite of its 80 percent virtualization market share — is gearing up to lodge one heck of an antitrust complaint against Microsoft. (I wonder if VMWare parent EMC Corp. is really up for that kind of move. Maybe.)

Presumably VMware isn’t marshalling their arguments for the exercise, so what will it be - lawsuits or complaints to the various antitrust watchdogs or both?

Microsoft today released Virtual PC 2007 which, in keeping with the competition in virtualization, is available as a free download from the web. You can check out the overview document for technical details, but it uses Microsoft’s XPS format which means you have to install .NET Framework 3.0 to read it if you aren’t running Vista. If that’s impossible or the prospect fills you with dismay, the net is that Virtual PC 2007 adds:

* Support for x64 Windows as a host operating system
* Support for hardware virtualization support
* Support for Windows Vista as a guest and host operating system
* Support for PXE network booting of virtual machines
* Support for the use of fullscreen virtual machines on multi-monitor systems (VM still stays on just one monitor though)

However, as we mentioned in January, you won’t be running any Home versions of Vista in a Virtual PC because it is forbidden. Allowable hosts are Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows XP Professional, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

Microsoft’s John Howard blogged the news on Tuesday:

As of this morning, a revised release candidate build of Virtual PC 2007 is now available on Microsoft Connect. You will need a passport account to login. If you’re not already participating in the Beta, go to available connections and subscribe to “Virtual PC 2007 Beta”.

More tips by following the link. Virtual PC 2007 features Vista optimization among other enhancements.

Nick White at Microsoft’s Windows Vista Team Blog has the Virtual PC 2007 news:

Virtual PC 2007 Beta is now available as a free download from connect.microsoft.com.  Virtual PC 2007 is optimized to work well for Windows Vista as both the host and guest OS.  This version works with both 32-bit Vista and 64-bit Vista as the host operating system as well as Windows XP and has improved performance including support for hardware virtualization technologies from AMD and Intel.  So now you have an easy way to try out Windows Vista, even if you are reluctant to replace the OS on one your existing PCs; or if you have already taken the plunge you can spin up a legacy operating system in a virtual machine on your Windows Vista machine.

More by following the link, at the Virtual PC home page, and at the blog of Microsoft’s Virtual PC Guy.