Microsoft Officially Kills Virtual PC

MacRumors · Aug 7, 2006, 07:00 PM

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Microsoft has announced that it has halted development on a universal version of VirtualPC.

Quote:

In a statement on Monday, Microsoft said it "has made the decision not to move forward with a Universal version of Virtual PC at this time." -- via News.com

VirtualPC has long-been the king of the hill for Virtualization on Macintosh. With the Intel transition, however, came competitive pressure from Parallels, which has since released the final version of its product, and VMWare which is showcasing a beta of its solution at WWDC.

Microsoft has claimed that to port VirtualPC to Intel would be much like making VirtualPC 1.0 all over again.

Quote:

Because of how closely virtualization software is tied to an operating system, Microsoft said that moving Virtual PC to the Intel-based Mac would be "similar to creating a version 1.0 release."

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SuperSnake2012 · Aug 7, 2006, 07:02 PM

Go Parallels!

noservice2001 · Aug 7, 2006, 07:04 PM

good, that was hard to use anyway...

yg17 · Aug 7, 2006, 07:04 PM

Wasn't there a rumor going around a couple months back about M$ making VPC free? That would make sense now if they're going to discontinue it, and let us PPC users have it for free. Who wants to pay for a product that won't receive any updates?

narco · Aug 7, 2006, 07:05 PM

Is that the best you got, Microsoft?

Freyqq · Aug 7, 2006, 07:05 PM

I guess there was no reason to continue. They were prob not making much of a profit on VPC anyhow and 3rd parties already had it covered.

Are they working on a universal MS Office?

darwen · Aug 7, 2006, 07:05 PM

So many remarks... so little time...

Steve Jobs probably hurt their feelings today
Maybe now they can finally get some work done on vista
Or quite possibly they thought it was dumb to run fake OSX in real OSX

longofest · Aug 7, 2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yg17

Wasn't there a rumor going around a couple months back about M$ making VPC free? That would make sense now if they're going to discontinue it, and let us PPC users have it for free. Who wants to pay for a product that won't receive any updates?

No... that was a lot of people getting confused. MS was giving away VirtualPC 2004, which is a Windows product. They never were giving away any Mac products, nor were they intending to as far as we know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freyqq

Are they working on a universal MS Office?

Yes, but we don't exactly know when that will come out. Look for it AFTER Vista (if that can happen)

Over Achiever · Aug 7, 2006, 07:09 PM

I can't say I'm not surprised, but I'm glad we have other options (that run well) at this time. I just hope this doesn't carry over to Microsoft Office (which has a separate Mac team from Vista I understand)

BKF · Aug 7, 2006, 07:10 PM

All because of those Vista 2.0 cracks?

inkswamp · Aug 7, 2006, 07:16 PM

Anyone else remember those old rumors about how MS was buying VPC just to kill it off? I thought that was silly back then, but I'm wondering now. Considering how they sat on the thing for ages and never really did anything with it and now have caved at the first sign of competition, you have to wonder. They clearly were not very committed to keeping it going.

Abercrombieboy · Aug 7, 2006, 07:18 PM

Why would they? The Intel models will run Windows anyhow. I don't think there would be much of a market for this product since the move to Intel is complete.

DOUGHNUT · Aug 7, 2006, 07:19 PM

just use Parallels or VMWare

Flowbee · Aug 7, 2006, 07:20 PM

MS seems to have lost out on a nice little market due to dragging their feet so long with VPC. That being said, I think it's great that we no loger have to rely on MS to keep Windows (and other os's) running on Macs.

bluarash · Aug 7, 2006, 07:21 PM

Yes, Parallels and VMware are better products, but that is not the point. Has no one else noticed the number of products Microsoft is canceling for the Mac. I do not believe that Microsoft sees a market for the Macintosh. This of course is purely a business perspective.

I for one think Apple will be taught a lesson in respect. The only logical solution is to kill off Mac Office universal binary support. If they want to run on the Intel platform, they can run on emulation.

It would not be much of a loss if Microsoft decided to pull the plug. Don't think they haven't taught about it. A three percent market share or 19 million desktop users does not even come close to the numbers that still use Windows 2000, never mind Windows 98. I of course don't wish this to happen, but it is one logical outcome.

Flowbee · Aug 7, 2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abercrombieboy

Why would they? The Intel models will run Windows anyhow. I don't think there would be much of a market for this product since the move to Intel is complete.

Tell that to the Parallels people. Bootcamp isn't the same thing.

kevinuaa · Aug 7, 2006, 07:21 PM

I think think this may mean they are close to announcing a universal version of MS OFFICE. VPC was a part of the Office pro version, and they probably decided not to wait to complete the universal version of VPC.
Cheers,

Cameront9 · Aug 7, 2006, 07:22 PM

So with WMP gone and now VPC gone, the only MAJOR software developed for Macs by Microsoft is Office?

Let's just hope they don't decide to kill office. Sure, I know there are lots of alternatives out there, but you try telling that to Mr. idiot joe-average boss.

Edit: Looks like I spoke too soon, fortunately:
http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/08/...office.coming/

Abercrombieboy · Aug 7, 2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameront9

So with WMP gone and now VPC gone, the only MAJOR software developed for Macs by Microsoft is Office?

Let's just hope they don't decide to kill office. Sure, I know there are lots of alternatives out there, but you try telling that to Mr. idiot joe-average boss.

Yeah, Office will stay. They said they are committed for at least 5 more years. Office is probably the only Mac software they develop and actually make a decent profit on.

maxp1 · Aug 7, 2006, 07:24 PM

Wonder how much they paid Connectix just to abandon it.

bigandy · Aug 7, 2006, 07:25 PM

since they never created a 1.0 of Virtual PC (they just bought it), how do they know?

Abercrombieboy · Aug 7, 2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flowbee

Tell that to the Parallels people. Bootcamp isn't the same thing.

True to use Bootcamp you actually have to re-boot the computer. I see what you are saying.

Thataboy · 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameront9

So with WMP gone and now VPC gone, the only MAJOR software developed for Macs by Microsoft is Office?

Let's just hope they don't decide to kill office. Sure, I know there are lots of alternatives out there, but you try telling that to Mr. idiot joe-average boss.

Edit: Looks like I spoke too soon, fortunately:
http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/08/...office.coming/

Microsoft is not developing Visual Basic in the Univeral Mac Office suite, so some people are already claiming that cross-compatibility is officially dead. Unless someone comes up with a Rosetta-like translator between VB and AppleScript/Automator, I don't see how script-filled Office files will be able to leave a Mac-only or Windows-only environment.

soosy · Aug 7, 2006, 07:28 PM

Nice timing of the announcement. Trying to rain on the WWDC parade...

dejo · Aug 7, 2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxp1

Wonder how much they paid Connectix just to abandon it.

Next step: Microsoft announces they've acquired Parallels, Inc.

Aug 7, 2006, 07:02 PM	#2
SuperSnake2012 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New York City, NY	Go Parallels! __________________ 13" Aluminum Macbook, 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD 8GB iPod touch, 80GB iPod video

Aug 7, 2006, 07:04 PM	#4
yg17 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St. Louis, MO	Wasn't there a rumor going around a couple months back about M$ making VPC free? That would make sense now if they're going to discontinue it, and let us PPC users have it for free. Who wants to pay for a product that won't receive any updates? __________________ 2.66 GHz quad core Mac Pro, 3 GB RAM, 2x500GB WD Black (RAID0), 2x1TB WD Black (RAID1), LG Blu-Ray Burner, GT120, Dell U2410 13" Unibody MacBook 2.4 GHz 120 GB iPod Classic; 16 GB iPhone 3G

Aug 7, 2006, 07:05 PM	#7
darwen macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California, US	So many remarks... so little time... Steve Jobs probably hurt their feelings today Maybe now they can finally get some work done on vista Or quite possibly they thought it was dumb to run fake OSX in real OSX __________________ Darwen

Aug 7, 2006, 07:09 PM	#9
Over Achiever macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Toledo, OH, formerly Twin Cities, MN	I can't say I'm not surprised, but I'm glad we have other options (that run well) at this time. I just hope this doesn't carry over to Microsoft Office (which has a separate Mac team from Vista I understand) __________________ "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." Sigma DP1 • 2 GHz Blackbook with 20" Dell LCD • Fujifilm S6000fd

Aug 7, 2006, 07:16 PM	#11
inkswamp macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2003	Tinfoil hat time... Anyone else remember those old rumors about how MS was buying VPC just to kill it off? I thought that was silly back then, but I'm wondering now. Considering how they sat on the thing for ages and never really did anything with it and now have caved at the first sign of competition, you have to wonder. They clearly were not very committed to keeping it going.

Aug 7, 2006, 07:04 PM	#3
noservice2001 macrumors regular Join Date: May 2006 Location: 808 State	good, that was hard to use anyway...

Aug 7, 2006, 07:05 PM	#5
narco macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: California.	Is that the best you got, Microsoft?

Aug 7, 2006, 07:05 PM	#6
Freyqq macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2004	I guess there was no reason to continue. They were prob not making much of a profit on VPC anyhow and 3rd parties already had it covered. Are they working on a universal MS Office?

Aug 7, 2006, 07:10 PM	#10
BKF macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY	All because of those Vista 2.0 cracks?

Aug 7, 2006, 07:18 PM	#12
Abercrombieboy macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Dakota, USA	Why would they? The Intel models will run Windows anyhow. I don't think there would be much of a market for this product since the move to Intel is complete. __________________ Mac: 20" Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo 2.4 Ghz, Mac OSX 10.6.1 iPod Touch 32 GB iPod Classic 80GB Silver Motorola Droid A855

Aug 7, 2006, 07:19 PM	#13
DOUGHNUT macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2006	just use Parallels or VMWare

Aug 7, 2006, 07:20 PM	#14
Flowbee macrumors 68030 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Alameda, CA	MS seems to have lost out on a nice little market due to dragging their feet so long with VPC. That being said, I think it's great that we no loger have to rely on MS to keep Windows (and other os's) running on Macs. __________________ Podophile.com >> Home of Nike+iPod hacks and FAQs.

Aug 7, 2006, 07:21 PM	#15
bluarash macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2005	This stuff has got to stop Yes, Parallels and VMware are better products, but that is not the point. Has no one else noticed the number of products Microsoft is canceling for the Mac. I do not believe that Microsoft sees a market for the Macintosh. This of course is purely a business perspective. I for one think Apple will be taught a lesson in respect. The only logical solution is to kill off Mac Office universal binary support. If they want to run on the Intel platform, they can run on emulation. It would not be much of a loss if Microsoft decided to pull the plug. Don't think they haven't taught about it. A three percent market share or 19 million desktop users does not even come close to the numbers that still use Windows 2000, never mind Windows 98. I of course don't wish this to happen, but it is one logical outcome.

Aug 7, 2006, 07:21 PM	#17
kevinuaa macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hawaii	I think think this may mean they are close to announcing a universal version of MS OFFICE. VPC was a part of the Office pro version, and they probably decided not to wait to complete the universal version of VPC. Cheers,

Aug 7, 2006, 07:22 PM	#18
Cameront9 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2006	So with WMP gone and now VPC gone, the only MAJOR software developed for Macs by Microsoft is Office? Let's just hope they don't decide to kill office. Sure, I know there are lots of alternatives out there, but you try telling that to Mr. idiot joe-average boss. Edit: Looks like I spoke too soon, fortunately: http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/08/...office.coming/

Aug 7, 2006, 07:24 PM	#20
maxp1 macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2005	Wonder how much they paid Connectix just to abandon it.

Aug 7, 2006, 07:25 PM	#21
bigandy macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Soho, London	since they never created a 1.0 of Virtual PC (they just bought it), how do they know? __________________ "any day that involves cat pee is a really bad day" - iBlue ǝןƃooɹɯ

Aug 7, 2006, 07:28 PM	#24
soosy macrumors regular Join Date: May 2002	Nice timing of the announcement. Trying to rain on the WWDC parade...

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