Verdict still out on future of Microsoft\'s Virtual PC
Prince McLeanDespite the release of Apple's Boot Camp technology, Microsoft says it is still debating the future of Virtual PC and continues to work with the Mac maker on plans to deliver a version of the Windows emulation environment that will function on Apple's new Intel Macs.
At Macworld Expo earlier this year, the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant publicly committed to developing an Intel-native version of its Mac Office suite for the next five years. However, it did not make similar promises in regards to Virtual PC, saying only that it was working with Apple on the future of the product.
Since Virtual PC emulates the Windows environment, Apple's move away from PowerPC chips and towards Intel processors requires substantial changes to Virtual PC. "This is like building a brand new version for us," Lefebvre said. "It’s not just a new operating system, it’s new hardware, too—this is a really big transition. It’s hard to say right now what it will look like or when it will be."
Still, Microsoft believes that Virtual PC's seamless compatibility with Mac OS X and the ability to run Windows without rebooting may provide the market opportunity for a revamp of the product. The company also noted that legacy PowerPC users may continue to demand a Windows emulation product.
In related news, Microsoft had only good things to say about Apple's new Boot Camp technology in a statement obtained by The New York Times. "Windows is a great operating system," the company said. "We're pleased that Apple customers are excited about running it, and that Apple is responding to meet the demand."
Malcolm Owen
Amber Neely
Marko Zivkovic
David Schloss
Wesley Hilliard
Mike Wuerthele and Malcolm Owen
31 Comments
sweet. a product that microsoft is bound to lose money on developing. Sounds like Apple gave Microsoft no heads up on Boot Camp and let them continue to waste money developing something only a niche few will buy or use.
sweet. a product that microsoft is bound to lose money on developing. Sounds like Apple gave Microsoft no heads up on Boot Camp and let them continue to waste money developing something only a niche few will buy or use.
I am in that Niche and hope someone comes out with a stable virtualzation package for Windows in the Mac OS.
My guess is that MS is asking Apple not to Virtualize without VPC as the solution on the Mac. That may be a no decesion with Parallels new software. I would also guess that Apple is hesitant about this virtualzation stuff because no one (MS or Apple) knows where this will end up going.
sweet. a product that microsoft is bound to lose money on developing. Sounds like Apple gave Microsoft no heads up on Boot Camp and let them continue to waste money developing something only a niche few will buy or use.
The vast majority of the Mac installed base is PPC-based. This will remain the case for quite some time. Most Intel-based Macs on sale today primarily serve non-professional users. These are not the target buyers for VPC. Those of us using professional-level PPC-based Macs remain the target market. Microsoft has the option of serving us, its customers, or abandoning us.
Having said that, I will remind the OP that VPC is currently cross-platform and has been so since before Connectix sold the product line to Microsoft. VPC runs on Intel-based Windows computers and PPC-based Macs. Are we to believe that Intel-based Macs represent such a huge hurdle that Microsoft will abandon the entire Mac platform?
Does this mean that I believe that VPC is safe? No, but it has nothing to do with Apple's switch to Intel and everything to do with Microsoft's own issues. I am particularly troubled by Microsoft's conversion of Virtual Server to a giveaway product. If you will remember, Microsoft bought out Connectix for VS which was still in beta at the time. VPC came along for the ride. If Microsoft is now giving VS away, this tells me that the product has failed in the marketplace. I don't see VPC surviving the death of its newer product sibling.
"This is like building a brand new version for us," Lefebvre said. "It?s not just a new operating system, it?s new hardware, too?this is a really big transition. It?s hard to say right now what it will look like or when it will be."
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
She's so full of crap, plenty of people are making alternatives to vpc and are doing it faster.
All software being translated is "a new version."
Everyone has to make this "really big transition"
It's not a new operating system.
sweet. a product that microsoft is bound to lose money on developing. Sounds like Apple gave Microsoft no heads up on Boot Camp and let them continue to waste money developing something only a niche few will buy or use.
I think you are confused. Dual booting is not the same as running software for one OS within another OS.
Boot Camp isn't so directly comparable to Virtual PC as you suggest. The first runs only one OS at a time, the other allows you to run Windows software within OS X, i.e. without having to shut down all your programs to reboot, it just runs.
I want some sort of thing like VirtualPC, and Boot Camp simply doesn't do that at all.