Are Virtualization Users Buying Up All the XP Like Hot Cakes?
Yesterday Ina Fried had an interesting post on how WIndows XP was a hot item on Amazon.com, inferring that this was because Microsoft has now stopped selling XP, but that retailers are allowed to sell it as long as they have stock. And as such XP Pro and XP Home where up in the 15 and 16th ranked spots on Amazon’s Best Selling Software page.
Well, Michael Horowitz at CNET has an interesting take on this: are Mac users with virtualization products like VMware Fusion the rabid XP buyers?
His rationale is around how it’s the “full” copies of XP that are selling well—the very kind required for running in a VM.
Of course, my favorite part of the article is where Michael talks about the other part of the Mac connection—the popularity of Mac software and virtualization software on that very same list. VMware Fusion is #6 on the list, just ahead of Mac OS X Leopard at #7 on the list. Parallels Desktop is down at #16.
What do you say? Are you stocking up on XP? Or are you just fine with Vista Home Premium in your VM?
LOL... Interesting theory... I'm sure it's all true!!! Go Macs (BTW.. I've eliminated all but one of my Windows machines at home... if I could only sell this darn laptop..!)
Posted by: luis benitez | July 10, 2008 at 03:09 PM
I'm one of those XP buyers, though my copy came from a Staples on the way back from the Apple store. As a long-time Windows users, the availability of virtual machines sold me on the switch to Mac. I had done my research beforehand and bought VMWare with the MacBook.
I chose XP over Vista because it's what I'm used to, because I've heard nothing but complaints on Vista and because the system requirements were so much lower--I assume a WinXP VM will run faster than a WinVista VM all else being equal. I've been happy with the setup. And this week I finally found a Linux flavor I like better than Ubuntu (the Windowsesqe Mandrive) and got VMWare Tools working. Yea!
Posted by: Martin Kelley | July 10, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Haha. Sounds completely logical and ironic as well. I'm a Windows/PC user who has witnessed many of his friends convert to Mac and love it... only to watch them all install virtualization software on their machine so that they can run Windows again in a VM. :) I'm also afraid to move to Vista, I'm still holding out.
When does Microsoft officially "end" its support of XP anyway?
Now that VMware has made it so easy to run Windows software on Apple hardware, watch as Mac units continue to climb faster. Great job with this product guys!
Posted by: David Marshall | July 10, 2008 at 05:22 PM
I picked up 2 copies of XP Home SP2 OEM to use with VMWare Fusion installations. Sitting on my shelf waiting until they are needed.
Posted by: sfmitch | July 10, 2008 at 08:32 PM
My XP Pro for the virtual machine is actually from 2004.
I was always required to have a windows machine somewhere in the office. It wasn't used very often, andtucked away under some desk, not even connected to a monitor but operated with Microsoft Remote PC.
This physical machine was retired now, but the XP License lives on. Virtually.
Alex
Posted by: Alexander von Below | July 11, 2008 at 01:41 AM