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Version of Windows Vista will include Virtual PC

Posted by Steven Parker on 28 July 2005 - 22:26 · 30 comments & 7317 views

According to a TechNet article about deploying Windows Vista in enterprise environments, there will be a version of Windows Vista released that is bundled with Microsoft's Virtual PC application that can be used for application compatibility. There is no word on if the Virtual PC engine will be integrated more deeply into the operating system to allow for faster performance of virtual machines.

From the Article, "Some versions of Windows Vista even include a version of Microsoft Virtual PC to enable users to run a different operating system in a window on their computer."

View: Full article @ TweakVista

Let’s start with what Microsoft told us last Friday:

Its important to note that Microsoft made it very clear to us that Beta 1 does not contain all the end-user features that they have planned for Beta 2. What those features will be is a wild guess because Microsoft declined to tell us.

Upgrading to Windows Vista from previous Windows versions will prompt you to perform an Anti-malware pre-installation setup. Vista now has a full screen domain logon, otherwise known as the "Welcome Screen".

Windows Service Hardening restricts critical Windows services from performing abnormal activities in the file system, registry, network, or any other resources that could be used to allow malware to install itself or attack other computers. For example the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service can be restricted from replacing system files or modifying the registry. Here's an interesting link from Microsoft that explains the process in detail.

Standard user accounts have been updated so they can change system settings (or install programs) by 'unlocking' the setting using an admin password. This may help users decide to use the 'Standard user' rather than an Administrator group account so that programs can't run in the background without authentication. (A Restricted user account remains an option) Microsoft has done away with the Windows guest account that the majority of people disabled or deleted anyways.

Vista will ship with an integrated "Restart Manager" effectively reducing the number of reboots a machine will need to perform. (Up to a 50% reduction) A lot of Windows users have disabled the automatic update features of their OS so as to avoid the annoying and incessant automatic restart pop-ups.

Virtual Folders in Windows Explorer will show a basic visual reference to the content within. If a folder contains music, the virtual folder will change to reflect the content inside. Same goes for pictures and just about any other type of document on your computer. Virtual Folders will even show a preview of content stored within the folder. (here is an example of what I mean). I used Windows Paint to capture this and it saved as PNG by default.

The new Games Browser features Parental controls for content (Games) using the ESRB Rating system.

IE7 will only be made available on Windows Vista Windows XP SP2.

Print Preview in IE7 gas gained a "shrink to fit" option (normally chops off right hand side of page), and an integrated MSN search field has been added next to the address bar. Additional search providers can be chosen, currently they are: AOL Search, Ask Jeeves, Google & Yahoo. On the toolbar there's a new button that when pressed, displays RSS Feeds you can subscribe to. (You can even subscribe to MSN search results)

Beta 1 has limited implementation; Beta 2 will see more interesting end user features. Basically the message from the IE Team here is, "We have a renewed vision in the future of IE, we are back"

Windows Vista truly promises to be something worth upgrading to, and I haven't even talked about the 'eye-candy' yet. I don't really need to, as you have seen the screenshots and countless articles before this on Aero, Glass and even seen concept themes made for Windows XP that emulate it.

Paul Krevs contributed to this article.

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#1 Posted by hotdog963al on 28 Jul 2005 - 22:35: Handy

(1 reply) #2 Posted by .:Neo.X.WinFreak:. on 28 Jul 2005 - 22:38: That would only make sense if it would become cheaper (and it def would) and maybe even faster...
Since im interested in VPC on my next machine, which will be running VPC I guess i have to keep looking for this kinda news...

-fm

(5 replies) #3 Posted by Colonel_Angus on 28 Jul 2005 - 22:44: Big deal. Intel and IBM are both working on implementing this functionality in hardware, and it will be a lot faster than MS's and Vmware's software solutions.

(5 replies) #4 Posted by Tikimotel on 28 Jul 2005 - 23:14: I wonder how long it will take before the EU will demand a Windows Vista version without "virtual PC" in it...

#5 Posted by Angel Blue01 on 28 Jul 2005 - 23:31: How much will it cost?

#6 Posted by Gowcra on 29 Jul 2005 - 00:28: :woot:

(2 replies) #7 Posted by Javizun on 29 Jul 2005 - 00:52: i alread ysee their whole marketing

vista is basically see in spanish or portuguese
the whole transperency effect is glass
what makes a window? glass and windows is the operating system

so they are going to base their marketing on that i bet money
i mean it all falls into why they chose vista-and the glass effect
alo of people think microsoft is this and that but somebody over there is smart as hell to combine everything related to a window and what you do when you ar in front of a window
****ing smart

and the whole virtual pc will be bscially a step towards educating people on technology
microsoft will be dominating for years to come i mean look at how much attention apples hardware (pathetic) update got

#8 Posted by soothsayer on 29 Jul 2005 - 02:01: That's a pretty cool idea.

(3 replies) #9 Posted by Mathiasdm on 29 Jul 2005 - 05:33: Isn't that uncompetitive? How is VMWare going to compete now?

#10 Posted by thejohnnyq on 29 Jul 2005 - 12:41: I was at an MS Executive event, and this was disclosed in the meeting. I have a copy of the slides, and they were showing this feature. The said that you should not need another OS license, as the VPC will be for application compatibility, and most of the licenses would be covered via SA or Enterprise, for the consumer there was something about 1 additional OS license. After some digging and found out they are attempting to re-create the OS/2 WinOS model, where application would run in there own environment as needed, it can be shared or private.

#11 Posted by andy2004 on 29 Jul 2005 - 15:22: i had a funny feeling they would do this ah well good on microsoft i love virtual pc especially for running microsoft bob OS !

#12 Posted by eilegz on 29 Jul 2005 - 19:11: well this make sense since ballmer says that it will be a high end version of windows and one of this features would be integrated virtual pc and onecare among others again it would be a ultra super complet pack but just thinking about it it will cost like 600 or 700 a single license that would be insane

#13 Posted by nonsence on 29 Jul 2005 - 21:13: the Add-Remove Windows components should be upgraded to support more tools that the base OS can be loaded with and unloaded with. Any major linux distro has a nice easy to use app loader that can even go on the net and download the updates and extras the linux distro would come with, or even copy them from the cd/dvd media. In microsofts case, any software that they give out free for download on the Microsoft Technet and MSDN sites should be in the list. and the list should upgrade itself every week or so, by downloading a new list of updated software a user can download from microsoft. this would be easier then having to go to technet and search through the website for lates versions of Log Parser, Resource Kit tools, Admin Tools, scripts, documents, etc etc.
but... sadly... i see it not happening i betcha

#14 Posted by mr_da3m0n on 30 Jul 2005 - 05:46: As long as it doesn't blow chunks like the connectix codebase...

Virtual PC sucks big time, when compared to VmWare. Same for Virtual Server 2005 -- no hyperthreading support, and craps out randomly, looses network connectivity... and you're supposed to hand production VMs to THAT? Urgh.

(I know SP1 beta fixes most of that. But it is a beta and a big no no in our production env.)

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