Microsoft Virtual PC now free. What's next... ??

You can now download Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1 for free.  Microsoft will also be offering Virtual PC 2007 for free.

I prefer VMware workstation for a few different reasons but I don’t know what features that Virtual PC 2007 will have when it comes out (besides the announced support for Vista).

Here is the timeline for free virtualization over the past year.   I really like this trend and I have to wonder when VMWare is going to release VMware Workstation for free in response to Microsoft’s move.  I am sure it is inevitable as the feature difference between the two cannot justify spending $189 from VMware for very long.  Especially if Virtual PC 2007 is just around the corner…

  • February 2006 – VMware makes VMware Server a free product.
  • April 2006 – Microsoft makes Virtual Server a free product.
  • July 2006 – Microsoft makes Virtual PC a free product.
  • ???? – VMware makes VMware Workstation a free product.


Published Thursday, July 13, 2006 7:28 AM by dotnetboy2003
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Comments

# re: Microsoft Virtual PC now free. What's next... ??

VMWare does already have a free player. (http://www.vmware.com/products/player/) Here are the free things at VMWare: VMware Player | VMware Server | VirtualCenter for VMware Server

Thursday, July 13, 2006 9:47 AM by Brendon Schwartz

# re: Microsoft Virtual PC now free. What's next... ??

They do have a free player, but I haven't ever talked to anyone that actually uses it. From what I have read, VMware player is a stripped down version of their workstation product. VMware Workstation is their product that is most equivalent to Virtual PC.

Thursday, July 13, 2006 9:56 AM by dotnetboy2003

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