Column by Amy Newman on ServerWatch about the impact of Windows 7 and how it could be a tipping point for virtualization wit VMware.
When an operating system rolls out, it's always interesting to watch the new options for hardware and software roll out. Windows 7 has been no exception to this in the week since its launch.
On Tuesday, VMware announced the release of Workstation 7. Among the big feature enhancements is a Windows 7 update.
Although VMware describes Workstation as a desktop virtualization product, it is not desktop virtualization, as the term is more commonly used nowadays. In client-side virtualization, to be more specific, the desktop is akin to a thin-client: All of the users apps, data and settings are stored on the server, enabling him or her to connect via any device. For that, VMware has VMware View, which includes its VDI. VMware View is aimed at the general end-user population.
Workstation on the other hand is aimed more squarely at developers and sys admins. True to its name, it runs on the desktop, but it is more like VMware Server of yesteryear, enabling the user to run Windows 7, XP and Vista from a single desktop PC or a laptop.
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