Vista Adoption Difficult for Some?

Now that Vista's here... finally... why is Microsoft making it difficult for potentially influential customers - say Mac owners, to adopt the new operating system?

According to an Associated Press (AP) report, Microsoft is actually doing this, and is citing security reasons for the same.
Now, virtualization has been around for a while, and lets one computer mimic multiple machines - even those having different operating systems. Multiple applications are run simultaneously, but in separate compartments of the computer.

Apple Macs use Intel chips just like Windows-based PCs. Virtualization programs allow Mac users switch back and forth between Mac OS X and Windows operating systems.

By that standard, the Vista launch should have been an excellent opportunity for companies like Parallels that sell virtualization products.

However, while Apple's Boot Camp program lets Windows run on a Mac, Parallel's virtualization software, which costs around $80 (Rs 3,600), lets Windows run within a window on the Mac desktop.

Parallels also sells a $50 (Rs 2,250) version of its virtualization product that lets users run both Vista and Windows XP - which means they get to keep programs that aren't yet Vista compatible.

And, in the price charged for the virtualization product, a Windows copy does not come included. To get that copy, buyers must agree to Vista's draconian licensing regulations.

Then again, when users scour through the 14-page legal document, they inevitably come across a ban on using the least expensive versions of Vista in virtualization engines, viz the $199 (Rs 8,955) Home Basic edition, and the $239 (Rs 10,755) Home Premium edition.

Which means that they must opt for the $299 (Rs 13,455) Business version or the $399 (Rs 17,955) Ultimate package.

This kind of arm-twisting is surprising, considering Macs account for less than 5 percent of PCs in USA. Why would Microsoft be interested in presenting such a miniscule market with such roadblocks?

Meanwhile, the general feeling is that when Vista is so undeniably cool, Microsoft should not let go of any opportunity to reach people who normally dont use Windows operating systems - be it Mac users or Linux users.

Scott Woodgate, one of the Directors of Microsoft's Vista team, said that while the least expensive versions of Vista would actually work in virtualization programs, Microsoft wants to restrict them because of new security holes created by the technology.

Woodgate even said that Microsoft was initially considering banning virtualizing Vista entirely on all versions, but then ultimately, the company decided that most tech savvy users or people in companies with tech support would be better able to handle Vista in virtualization programs than say - home users.

What's more, the prohibitive rules apply not only to third-party virtualization vendors like Parallels but also to Microsoft's own Virtual PC software, which is available as a free download.

And, while higher priced versions of Vista are allowed on virtualization engines, even in those - some powerful features are forbidden.

Besides, why in the world would tech-savvy people want only more expensive versions of Vista. All said and done, the maze of dos and donts is enough to drive Vista enthusiasts up the wall...