“Amidst pressure from several avenues, Microsoft was forced to cut features from its new Windows emulation software in order to deliver G5 compatibility without further delays,’ Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider. “Many of the feature enhancements originally planned for Virtual PC 7.0 did not make it into the version of software that will begin shipping this month, multiple sources tell AppleInsider.”
“According to reports, the emerging presence of Apple’s G5 processor played a major role in Microsoft’s decision to trim a significant number of features from the emulation software late in its development cycle. As a result, sources said that the software may not run as fast as some users may have come to expect,” Jade reports. “Several additional features have also been delayed until future revisions of software, such as an increase in the software’s PC memory from 512MB to 4GB and a new option to use Virtual PC’s virtual PC hard drive as a RAM disk for faster virtual disk performance. Microsoft has also decided to hold off on some refinements to Virtual PC’s multiprocessing support, which will eventually allow audio emulation, networking, IDE I/O, and USB functions to be offloaded from the primary processor.”
“Future versions of Virtual PC are expected to reacquire most, if not all of the features cut from the development of Virtual PC 7.0. Unfortunately, sources were unable to provide target release dates, stating only that some features may not mature until next summer,” Jade reports.
More details in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Surprised? We’re not. In our MacDailyNews Opinion section on February 19, 2003, the day it was announced that Microsoft had acquired Virtual PC from Connectix, SteveJack wrote, “Virtual PC for Macintosh is dead.” Full article: Bill Gates to Steve Jobs regarding Virtual PC: Checkmate – February 19, 2003
SteveJack was right. Instead of announcing they’re killing the Mac version, Microsoft will just dick around forever, make it crappy and slow, and turn VPC into a piece of junk nobody will want to buy – and then they’ll blame it all on the G5.
Microsoft feared VPC on the G5. It would’ve been too usable and therefore threatened MS because people would have gone Mac because they’d be getting two platforms for the price of one. SteveJack was right way back on the day MS bought VPC.
Sounds like the same engineers team working at Shorthorn took responsibility of Virtual PC development. I see the same vision in the design being in place.
Obviously, MS is not interested in having a fast Windows VPC running on G5’s – that would hurt them too much. Which is why they bought it from Connectix and why they’re knifing the baby slowly now.
transitive’s “quicktransit” looks hopeful, with any luck we won’t have to deal with virtualpc much longer anyway..
Folks, Microsoft get’s it’s money whether windows runs on a PC or in Virtual PC, in fact, Microsoft gets MORE money for running Windows on Virtual PC. This doesn’t threaten them in the least. They’re selling more copied of their OS and that means more money in their coffers. Frankly, this talk about them trying to sabotage VPC makes to sense to me.
I think what this really comes down to is simply that Microsoft bit off more than it can chew. They had to steal programmers to fix XP and Service Pack 2, which put them woefully behind on Wronghorn development, and then woefully behind on Virtual PC development. This has nothing to do do with fighting against Apple. They want you to buy their software because they want you to give them more money. That’s Business. Why VPC is feature cut is simply incompetence.
What would give anyone the notion that the same company that has taken nearly 10 years NOT to produce Longhorn is capable of producing VPC?
Maybe MS will deliver the new and improved version of VPC in 2012?
I agree that M$ didn’t intentionally sabotage VPC 7. They’re just too incompetent and unable to deliver on anything until it’s a year past due. That’s just the M$ way and it goes for VPC just as it does for shorthorn.
Yeah, but Microsoft can buy all the engineers they need. Why does Microsoft cannot deliver their products on time. Microsoft doesn’t depend on anybody.
Corrections…(I really need to slow down when I’m trying to post)
“They’re selling more copies of their OS…”
“this talk about them trying to sabotage VPC makes no sense to me.”
And in regards to ” Microsoft gets MORE money for running Windows on Virtual PC.”, this means they get paid for both the Virtual PC product, and a copy of Windows as well.
Hopefully that new upstart’s software will be available soon. It definitely sounds more promising than the hack MS is trying to sell to Mac users.
not surprised
Ummm. Let’s not totally blame MS guys (not yet)… why not blame the chip designers who removed those rather convenient instructions which helped VPC to work in the first place.
I say they should put them back in, if possible.
JadisOne: Now here’s a threat to Microsoft if there ever was one. Imagine being able to run any Windows App on any platform other than Windows. Why would people need Windows then? (Yes, I know this argument can be turned around on Apple or Linux, just go with me on this..) Virtual PC is literally a Virtual Machine Emulator, on which an Operation System can be run in. The OS is no different than what it installed on PCs. However, the upstart company is creating a standalong emulator that allows any application to run, without needing the virtual machine or virtual OS environment. That’s a big step, and one I think Microsoft will squelch before too long. I hope they make it, but knowing Microsoft, it’s merely a matter of time before they bring their boot down..
It seems Microsoft is falling apart. They can buy all the engineers they want, but it seems that they can’t get them to deliver.
Sooner or later this will be ready, and we won’t need VPC at all.
why soil your mac with such a product?
One word, Darwine!
Keep an eye on this one.
Could the advent of the “emulation” breakthroughs from Trasitive http://transitive.com/ have something to do with this? Their software could easily make Virtual PC obsolete. I think Microsoft wants to get VPC out the door to iMac G5 users before Transitive has an opportunity to release a consumer version of their software.
The way Microsoft & partners, (Dell , HP, IT guys, etc.) work is doing part of the work.
They sell you today a part of the job at the full price, lately again, etc.
They get more money on more deliveries and not making the products perfect, so there is a need for a patch, and then for a new full version…
I think the reason MSFT wants to kill VPC is because once a person owned a G5 and was running VPC they’d also begin spending more and more time working inside OS X and evetuanlly they would simply switch to OS X and never buy another MSFT product.
DakRowland: I would agree if it weren’t for the fact that Microsoft runs on the same parnoid style of management that Andy Grove used at Intel. Business sensibilities go beyond business and into the realm of psychotic. Everything Microsoft does has a plan beyond the obvious. It is HOW they do BUSINESS. They are actually too smart for their own good as we are beginning to see. And while they make money on some Mac products, the smaller market share products are not worth their time. MS bought Connectix so they could get the Windows emulation software AND serve their other purpose of sticking it to their COMPETITOR. Apple is on their radar (as is just about any other company making a noticable dent in the tech industry.) MS will not make as much in net profit on Virtual PC because the programming and maintenance cost cannot be recovered with the small market for VPC. MS cannot deal long term with small market share products. It is in their best interest to let VPC die, which they will, mark STEVEJACK’s word. The only way that MS can benefit from the sale of VPC is if about 25% of the windows users go Mac. MS does not want to offer a product that would facilitate that.
Darwine is the future. Windows without Windows.
I don’t understand how a company with the resources at its disposal that M$ has can deliver anything late.
Apple, with a lot less money and a lot less staff has managed significant, yearly upgrades to OSX ….. sounds to me like M$ don’t like doing any work for their money.
Dear mart:
QuickTransit only emulates Unix.
QuickTransit only emulates Unix.
QuickTransit only emulates Unix.
QuickTransit only emulates Unix.
QuickTransit only emulates Unix.
That means MacOS, Linux, SCO, BSD, AIX, AUX, HP/UX, Solaris, etc.
It does nothing for Windows.
Any ex-VPC software engineers out there care to comment on the “delay” in MS bringing the G5 version to market?
Does the time delay seem reasonable considering the helpful instructions were removed from the CPU?
If Connectix still owned and developed the software, could it have been done faster do you think?
Of course, just thinking about it – knowing these answers probably won’t help – I mean, if MS hires crap programmers, it’ll take ages for anything to come out (duh, Longhorn?)
Never endow to conspiracy, that which can be consigned to incompetency!
RJ