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."

Comments

Don't Panic

[jlower]

It could be something as simple as a product naming/trademark issue.

Implications

[sabNetwork]

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.

Re:Implications

[Anonvmous Coward]

"Microsoft is doing one of the following:"

Just out of curiosity, how do you know those are the only options? Why can't it be that this software trips over a patent they have or some other issue? I mean seriously, isn't it odd that they're not showing us the Cease and Desist letter? Isn't it odd that they're not explaining what the issue is? For all we know, MS just wants them to stop the shipment of the product because they're not using the (R) term properly.

I'm not defending Microsoft here. Far from it. I'm just sick of all these paranoid theories that pop up with the most minimal of information. We already get this type of sensationalism from CNN. Do we need it on Slashdot too?

Re:Of course MS doesn't want competition.

[Anonvmous Coward]

"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!"

Or they just don't want customers thinking that MS is at fault when really it's the PC emulator that's to blame. Sony used a similar argument when it tried to shoot down the PSOne emulator for Mac.

(note: Playing Devil's Advocate doesn't mean I'm supporting MS's position.)

Re:is there any real cause listed?

[Anonymous Coward]

When MS is involved, you don't need any details. They are to blame, period. This is slashdot, and everything MS ever does is evil. We will rail against commercial moneygrubbing corporations all day, but will take their word for it when they post something negative about MS sight unseen. MS doing something bad? Go figure, that's par for the course, they are evil, blah blah blah.

Details? Who needs details?

Close

[bill_mcgonigle]

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.

Re:Of course MS doesn't want competition.

[Delphiki]

I can not see Microsoft ever seriously promoting a Windows emulator. Why not? A quality Windows emulator being on the market will lead to more Mac use. As people get accustomed to Macs they will stop feeling the need for a Windows emulator. Plain and simple, despite the fact that Windows emulators require a Windows license, Windows emulators make it easier to switch away from Microsoft.

Re:is there any real cause listed?

[shaitand]

ok, fair enough. But can you name any time that Microsoft WASN'T guilty as charged? Even one? I mean come on, Microsoft has been involved in damn near every shady deal that has gone down since it's inception.

Re:Of course MS doesn't want competition.

[Delphiki]

OS/2 is a bit before my time, but didn't IBM invest large amounts of money in implementing the Windows API on OS/2, in a similar way to Wine, instead of using an emulator? It was my understanding that you could never count on being able to reliably run all Windows programs in OS/2 (not that you can in Windows either I suppose).

Re:Hardware x86 cards?

[nycroft]

Orange Micro definitely used to have one. Apple's version, I beleive was the DOS Compatibility Card. It was for the old NuBus Macs like the PowerMac 6100/66. Way old school. Worked pretty well...for DOS anyway. I think you could actually run Windows 3.11 on it as well. But it's been so long...