VPC 7 delayed until 2nd half of 2004... :(

[ZildjianKX]

The Microsoft MBU (Macintosh Business Unit) announced that VPC 7 will be released during the second half of 2004, rather than at the end of this quarter, as previously scheduled. Developpers seems to have some issues finalizing the software.

Even if the number of software titles available for OS X has boomed, some people still need VPC to run specific, windows-only applications. This delay might slow their migration to the G5.

This was just posted on hardmac... anyone else pissed?

[MacQuest]

Screw Monopolysoft.

[I know, I know, ..."but we have to use XYZ program that's only winblows compatabile". Still...]

Screw Monopolysoft.

Oh and...yes... I'm also pissed. :mad:

[Horrortaxi]

When has Microsoft ever released software when they said they would? It's not as if they are waiting until it's perfected.

Remember that one of Microsoft's tactics is to buy technologies/companies and anounce a release--and then delay delay delay before dropping the whole thing. Vaporware. I don't know if that's what they're planning with VPC, but it fits their MO. Microsoft does not want you to use a Mac, so this doesn't seem too surprising.

Then again, in 3 weeks we'll be in the 2nd half of 2004.

[&RU]

I don't know if I am more upset about a delay, or that I bought it in the first place. If performance is better = upset about delay. If performance is same = upset about buying VPC and will buy PC to replace it.

[ZildjianKX]

Sucks for all the G5 owners who have been waiting 8 months for the update already... looks like it could come out as late as December 2004... :confused:

[kgarner]

Microsoft does not want you to use a Mac, so this doesn't seem too surprising.

I don't think MS cares if you use a Mac, as long as they can sell you Virtual PC. As far as they are concerned it is just one more copy of Windows to sell.

Now I would agree if you had said something to the effect that MS wants there to be fewer programs for the Mac. That would help them sell more copies of Virtual PC.

[wdlove]

I wonder is this will delay Office 2004 Professional Edition? If not maybe they will give special pricing to Professional Edition owners.

[TyleRomeo]

This was just posted on hardmac... anyone else pissed?

I used to be. As a switcher VPC was very important to me. Now being a mac guy for almost 2 years, I don't even want to look at any windows OS. I only use mac software. I just want apples own Apple Office.

Tyler

[SiliconAddict]

heh, This is bad. I can't switch without VPC and I can't really switch until a G5 shows up in a PowerBook. Hopefully both will show up by EoY.

[craigdawg]

I wonder is this will delay Office 2004 Professional Edition? If not maybe they will give special pricing to Professional Edition owners.
According to news.com, Professional Edition will be delayed:

Microsoft delays Virtual PC 7 for Macs (http://news.com.com/2100-7343_3-5211129.html?tag=nefd.top)

[Chaszmyr]

heh, This is bad. I can't switch without VPC and I can't really switch until a G5 shows up in a PowerBook. Hopefully both will show up by EoY.

VPC 7 will almost certainly show up before the end of the year... I'm not expecting G5 PowerBooks until January though

[Chaszmyr]

According to news.com, Professional Edition will be delayed:

Microsoft delays Virtual PC 7 for Macs (http://news.com.com/2100-7343_3-5211129.html?tag=nefd.top)


Professional edition includes VPC... So how could it ship if VPC wasn't ready?

[raynegus]

I don't have a G5 yet so it doesn't matter to me. I use VPC + Windoze 2000 and that works fine on my G4. If you don't have a G5, what's the hurry?

[ZildjianKX]

I don't have a G5 yet so it doesn't matter to me. I use VPC + Windoze 2000 and that works fine on my G4. If you don't have a G5, what's the hurry?

I do have a G5, so I want there to be a hurry :)

[maxvamp]

I know that this comment is not new, or uncommon on any non-MS platform, but his has been a truism for a long time.

One thing I have seen work to some degree in the past are efforts to duplicate like programs for other platforms where the originator of the application is unwilling, or unable to port their app. This, you might say, was what made open source so popular.

I am not a fan of open source, since I believe that quality deserves payment. I also am not a fan of emulators, because in many cases, by the time, they are truly useful, they are running obsolete systems. Not a good use of time in a productive environment.

What I would like to see is a list somewhere, where people could post a list of applications that keep them tied to Windows ( and what features are most important ). This might give the Mac ( LINUX as well ) development community some very pointed direction on what types of applications they should like to write.

Everyone knows that the consumer wants Office, and as such, I doubt many people have to run an emulator to run office, or a very similar version of a competing word processor.

The second thing we have to do is to find professional development teams, interested in making a buck, to write these. I am not a fan of piracy, and **most** open source apps fall way short of their commercial brethren ( GIMP vs. PHOTOSHOP? ).


Long and short of all of this is that VPC should not be a killer app on a Mac, and it would be nice if the Mac community had a way to not rely on it.

My $.02

Max :cool:

[nimda]

I do have a G5, so I want there to be a hurry :)
*cry* and so do I... I'm in school and some of my teachers require we use windows only programs because "everybody uses windows" it's so bs... I can see them requiring you have a certain abilitiy - i.e. word processing, but to say you have to use the windows only version? (fyi.. it's not word processing that's my problem, so no flames about that... but yeah... it suxx0rs)

[mrjamin]

hold up, since VPC7 will be G5 'friendly', doesn't that mean that the first 64bit version of windows will be out on the mac before x86 based machines!? lmao!

[wHo_tHe]

Then again, in 3 weeks we'll be in the 2nd half of 2004.
Are we looking at the same calendar? :)

[ZildjianKX]

hold up, since VPC7 will be G5 'friendly', doesn't that mean that the first 64bit version of windows will be out on the mac before x86 based machines!? lmao!

I'm not sure if that exactly makes sense, since it will be a 32 bit version of windows running on a 64-bit processor... being G5 'friendly' is just fixing the endian problem IBM screwed up by not including.

[ZildjianKX]

*cry* and so do I... I'm in school and some of my teachers require we use windows only programs because "everybody uses windows" it's so bs... I can see them requiring you have a certain abilitiy - i.e. word processing, but to say you have to use the windows only version? (fyi.. it's not word processing that's my problem, so no flames about that... but yeah... it suxx0rs)

I hear you, I did really bad in one of my engineering classes that required a Verilog simulator that just wasn't available for OS X... :(

[NuPowerbook]

Are we looking at the same calendar? :)
June = 6th month marker, so technically, July is the Second half, but he was on the right track.

[MacBandit]

I hope it fixes some compatibility issues with USB devices so that USB GPS units are easier to connect. Since GPS isn't supported with the Mac not for uploading maps to a GPS at least.