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RealPC For Mac Delayed By MS Cease And Desist
mgh02114 writes "Microsoft recently purchased the Windows-on-a-Mac emulation program "Virtual PC" from Connectix. Since then, FWB announced that they were working to revive their competing 'Real PC' Windows emulation program for Macintosh OS X.
Well, now it looks like Microsoft is trying to kill that program as well. FWB announced that: 'FWB is working diligently to update Real PC and Softwindows for OSX. In May, while working on this project, we received a setback in the form of a cease and desist letter from Microsoft. We are working to resolve the issues with Microsoft, and this has caused some delay, much to our frustration. We are committed to having a beta for you to test for us and help us optimize, this summer. We think we have only lost a few weeks of time to this issue.' FWB appreciates your continued patience and support."
Windows DOESN'T WANT MORE WINDOWS USERS? In order to run windows on a Mac, you have to buy the license to run the Windows, even with VPC-style emulation.
This is a load of status-quo crap that Microsoft wants to cram down the throats of those of us who like the Mac platform.
Only in slashdot are posts of solidarity modded at -1 Redundant, while posts of antagonism are modded as -1 Flamebait.
Well, of course Microcrap doesn't want FWB to make a Windows emulator. Why would they, M$ already makes one? We don't need TWO Winblows emulators, right? That would just be downright GREEDY.
If so I didn't see it there. Why not just post the cease and desist?
What we see depends on mainly what we look for. -- John Lubbock Now search for that bug slave!
I mean, if their monopoly power and deep pockets and hordes of lawyers don't stop an opposing product, it might actually have to succeed on it's MERITS! MS always wants to avoid that at all costs.
"Common Sense Ain't" -Unknown
It could be something as simple as a product naming/trademark issue.
MS VPC or FWB RealPC - the choice for me would come down to speed. I've used VPC and been less than impressed with its quickness. So much so, that it would almost be faster for me to drive to the office to do the "Windows-only" tasks that I might need to do.
Luckily my company uses Citrix, which allows me to do my Windows work from the comfort of my Mac!
This is my sig. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
-dunar
Whoa, what's going on here? Seriously, this is some fishy stuff.
Microsoft is doing one of the following:
1.) Trying to profit from Windows emulation on MacOS by buying the most popular product, then eliminating the competition. I suppose this is a good idea, as it sells Windows licenses.
2.) Trying to eliminate Windows emulation entirely because it's a threat. After all, it's a good reason for people to use Macs-- running Windows software means no inhibitions about switching. Microsoft could eliminate Windows emulation by acquiring the most popular software product (VirtualPC), suing other emulation software companies for infringing on Windows copyrights, and then discontinuing the most popular product.
As to which is the case, I haven't a clue. Perhaps other Slashdotters will have opinions in this regard.
Correct. The Apple software market is so vast that the Windows world is but a drop in the bucket in comparison.
What the RealPC guy doesn't tell you is that he SOLD his business to Connectix a few years ago. This is how Connectix did the product for Mac. VitrualPC is nothing but the evolution of RealPC.
When Connectix PURCHASED the IP from RealPC, the contract was saying that RealPC would not be able to sell anymore this product, as it was not theirs anymore. Now that MS bought Connectix's IP, VirtualPC that is, that idiot RealPC guy THOUGHT that he would be able to re-sell his own app!! What a loonie! He signed for the contract that now MS is owning.
MS only does what they should do here, as they own that IP. RealPC seems to have its head on its a$$.
I call bullshit on that theory for one simple reason.
/.'s front page instead of the apple section. If this doesn't look like Microsoft-specific coercion by using their monopolistic strongarm tactics, I don't know what is.
FWB used to produce the Windows 95/98 Emulator which was called Softwindows. They changed the title of it to RealPC just to avoid extra headaches from Microsoft's legal department.
I really hope this was on
I love your capitalist american business rules. Very soon your free businesses will sue eachother back to the stone age.
heheh... it is really funny to watch.
By shrewdly stopping their work for weeks, they've complied with both the cease and desist requests in one move! Take that, M$!
I'm not buying a damn thing
It could be that Microsoft plans on killing VPC, and doesn't want there to be any way to run Windows on Mac.
Q: Yes, but why?
A: Palladium.
Microsoft is really into this whole Palladium thing. It provides a way to secure future revenue streams once Windows' competitors pass it by on the technology front. They just need to provide a 'secure platform' and convince/acquire the big media players into only allowing their IP to be available on Palladium.
Palladium relies on trusted hardware. If you have a bunch of trusted 'hardware' out there running emulated in software it's suddenly much easier to peek at. This is bad for media sales, and Microsoft revenue.
So, might as well cut off any such efforts before they get off the ground. Who do you think has more lawyers, FWB or Microsoft? My vocabulary word of the day today is barratry.
From this perspective, the iTunes Music Store is the biggest poke in the eye Steve could have stuck to Bill, and puts them on the defensive like nothing else could. The iTunes Music Store is actually strategically necessary for the future viability of Mac OS X and Apple. It's real purpose is to preempt Palladium. I have to admit, that's pretty frikkin clever.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
What's more interesting is that Apple sent MacRumors.com a cease and desist on their article on the G5 PowerMac.
2 426.shtml
http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/06/2003060716
Virtual PC software emulates commodity PC hardware. It does not emulate Windows. If you choose to use Windows under Virtual PC, you use a bona fide Microsoft Windows installer CD. Alternatively, you're free to install x86 Linux under Virtual PC as well.
If you reply, do so only to what I explicitly wrote. If I didn't write it, don't assume or infer it.
I also exepct it to be a trademark issue. Can anyone think of a way to communicate the idea of emulating Windows specifically?
How's about:
`SoftWinbloze - come to the dark side` or something?
Could a company use OSS projects such as bochs somehow to thier advantage? Is there a LGPL alternative?
Could a company be justifiable as supporting the code but making money from something else other than writing it, such as commercial support, additional features and a guarentee that specific programs will run.
If a project such as bochs had limits on the features it is expected to include a company can step in and add those features. Un/fortunately most of the time projects are free to out compete commercial projects. While this is a good thing it puts off proprietory dev's because they expect it to happen.
A blog I run for the wealth
As a switcher from Softwindows to VirtualPC, I recall the difference very well. Insignia changed the name from Softwindows at Microsoft's behest, and to RealPC as a play on rival VirtualPC's name. Now that MS owns VPC, it is likely claiming that RealPC infringes on VirtualPC's trademark. If the delay is truly only a few weeks, that's about enough time to rename RealPC something like Chimera. Oops. Camino? Oops. iPC. Oops...
....that OpenOffice made this a non-issue. Yes, I used to run SoftWindows, etc. but never on a regular basis, and not in the last two or three years. Now that OO is available, I can run it on my Mac and/or Linux boxen and be happy.
No need to check pricing for MS emulator cloaking devices.
on the x86 side there is always vmware... it is a generic and reasonably well working x86 emulator. isn't a port to ppc planned for them? btw. i know it would be difficult for them as they perform most instructions directly on the cpu -> there is no need to adapt two instruction sets (eg. x86 on x86 vs. x86 on ppc). nevertheless, it could be a reasonable market considering MS is interested enough to buy companies that operate in that market...
On what grounds can microsoft issue a hardware emulator with cease and desist?
T Money
World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
it seems like connectix is great at working on software that pisses of some company and then sells the right to it back to that company. think "virtual game station" which was probably the best playstation emulator to date. don't forget the connectix quickcam which used to be a great, simle webcam until the sold it to logitech which made the camera better but the software and drivers such a hassle that i gave up on what use to be a fine product. that is it! the awnser to the second step in the equation 1> shitty product 2> pack in shitty software 3> profit way off topic but haven't you seen it. give a newbie a stack of aol cds and they think that you're a computer god.
Fuck Microsoft.
(I love it. Two of my favorite words and I get a chance to use them!!!) :) LOL
Microsoft is one of your favorite words ? Ack !
-10, full of fucking feces.
How did OO make PC emulation a non-issue? OO is an Office suite, isn't it?
Might it not have something to do with the fact that Macs are about to get a whole lot faster when the G5 (allegedly) comes out in a month's time?
At the moment, Macs are for the most part embarassingly slow (I say this as a Mac user, so flame all you like, but you're flaming your own) and when the G5 comes out and things get a hell of a lot quicker, any PC emulator is going to speed up similarly - it might even become usable.
If one ever wanted proof that they were/are a monopoly and are just incredibly anal in their business tactics, it is all right here. *sigh* It could only happen in America...
iqu
So I guess we're gettin G5s for real? That would be like Xmas and easter on one day :-D
OS News pulled the story too:
http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=3735
Apple Insider still has it:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=114
You'll be able to compare right there on the screen. Think how ugly MS-Windows will look alongside Aqua, and what dumb-blonde secretaries and hairdressers will think of how slowly MS-Windows runs on their Mac. (-:
Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
Nowadays, MS-Office on Mac OS X is generally better than MS-Office on MS-Windows despite OS cheats; that's not far from what would happen if they went on to port it to Linux, but they seem to want "none" rather than "half a loaf". And of course, Linus has publicly stated in several ways that the day Microsoft port MS-Office to Linux, he'll consider himself to have won. World Domination will be complete. (-:
Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
I hadn't thought of the Palladium angle, but I suspect you are very right about that. I guess I had better go find a used copy of VPC while I can.
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
My vocabulary word of the day today is barratry.
Hear, hear! Microsoft will not get any of my business until they stop the deceitful practice of "Sale or purchase of positions in church or state".
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
Why has no one release a product like the SUN PCiii card for Apple?
The beauty of this setup is that x86 apps run natively, thus there is no emulation performance lag. You effectively get two computers in one.
There were rumors of G5's coming out in 2001 (at which point they would be bearably fast).
Then again in 2002.
Now again in 2003.
They're not that fast anymore. Honestly I don't see why Microsoft would be cringing in their shoes at the prospect of competing with a 4k$ quad-proc with "up to" 2ghz chips. Even with the RISC boost, that puts them in a class with systems half of their cost.
This by itself would not be enough to justify worry.
The ______ Agenda
- Connectix developed VPC from scratch
- Insignia/FWB discontinued their emulators because they couldn't keep up with VPC (slower, cost more)
- FWB had some kind of deal with Connectix in that they forwarded people interested in Intel emulation to Connectix. That was it. Nothing else.
Not quite true. Windows itself is steeply profitable, and there are many other minor software products that they turn a dollar on. Nothing earth-shaking but it's there.
Porting MS-Office to Linux will send two messages: "We trust Linux enough to put our flagship products on it" (what other software does Microsoft ship Linux versions of? I can only think of the FrontPage extensions); and "There is enough Linux on the desktop and it's going to be there for long enough to make porting MS-Office to it profitable to us despite the political effects of admitting defeat."
But they will be too late by then. They'll be fighting OpenOffice.org - which is improving faster than MS-Office is and priced very attractively - on its home territory; to say nothing of KOffice (likewise) and "lite" office components like AbiWord and Gnumeric.
Linus didn't say that he'd use MS-Office for Linux, just that he'd be happy to see it. (-:
Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
Microsoft bought Connectix for their emulation layer on x86. They're in the middle of building a new product to compete with VMWare installations using the Connectix Windows emulator to go along with a new embedded version of XP. It's currently called Typhon right now (Typhon was the 100 headed monster who was supposed to kill Zeus, and is supposed to be the source of lava from Mt Etna).
The Macintosh version of VPC might be maintained for a minof update or two, but then disappear under the guise of "not cost effective to continue development". Damn shame too, it was really starting to work well unde OSX.
Thank you everyone for your comments. For the record, Connectix never paid FWB "off". That is an old rumor and untrue. Not sure where it started or why. For a time FWB carried VPC after it had originally shut down SoftWindows and RealPC, but that was more of a courtessey to existing customers who wanted an upgrade path. As far as the cease notice from M$, if you want to see it, just ask. Goto www.fwb.com and email us. FWB has decided to rebrand "SoftWindows" to "PowerWindows". Sadly the process Microsoft has put us through takes time away from development and thus hurts our end users. I personally looked at the contracts between Insignia and FWB. Connectix was never given, sold or authorized access to RealPC. Again, another rumor. BTW - Insignia was the original owner of RealPC/SoftWindows. Thanks, FWB Software, Inc. Office of Chairman/CEO
I'm sorry but it really irks me to see writers such as timothy say "Well, now it looks like Microsoft is trying to kill that program as well."
As well as what? Look, I worked as the dev lead for Virtual PC at Connectix, and came to Microsoft 5 years ago. I work at MacBU only a few offices away from the Virtual PC development team. Microsoft has repeatedly stated that they intend to continue development of Virtual PC for Macintosh, and no matter how many times people here repeat that Microsoft is trying to kill it, it just isn't so. Microsoft likes Virtual PC for Mac, and Microsoft *loves* Virtual PC for Windows. Yeah, I know, I know, slashdot people won't believe it until they see the first Microsoft-branded VPC upgrade shipping, and try it out, and say "wow", but for those of you with a little bit of faith, the future of emulation on the Mac is quite rosy.
jbx
(sig) The last bug isn't fixed until the last user is dead. (/sig)