Will the XP Mode Add-in Be Made Available Before the General Release?

I would have to say it should be. After all, I would think, if Microsoft wants businesses to switch to Windows 7, the XP Mode code should be in the hands of its volume license holders already – they end to require a long cycle to update, so the more time they have upfront the better.

However, I see nothing about this in the announcement at Within Windows.  I see nothing about it at Paul Thurrott’s SuperPropaganda SuperSite for Windows.

A curious thing, however, in the list of pictures shown, they show the virtualized Windows XP having only 256 MB of memory to use – I certainly hope this will be expandable, because that will further slow things down.

{  ** You know, I’m thinking about rearranging some of my bookmarks in the browsers I use. I’ve got working titles of ‘Computer Blogs – Wheat’ and Computer Blogs – Chaff’. Obviously, the sites such as the Paul Thurrott site, and Within Windows will be relegated to Chaff, as will all other fanboy – ridiculously slanted ones.

On the other hand, there are other sites, and authors, who obviously have some ties to Microsoft, but aren’t blinded by it (perhaps its something called integrity, perhaps the transfer of money is not yet enough). Steven Bink’s site is one of those. He has ties to Microsoft ( has had them for quite some time) yet manages to remain somewhat restrained in his praise, and isn’t blinded by anything coming from Redmond.

I tend to anticipate his writings and know that any gushing is based mostly in fact. **}

After searching a few other places — oops! Mary-Jo Foley, on ZDNet has something about this, up just this AM -

Later that evening, Microsoft admitted the existence of this feature in a Windows Business blog post entitled “Coming Soon: Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC.”

Microsoft’s post doesn’t say much about the new feature, other than it will be aimed primarily at small businesses and will allow “suitable” applications to run on Windows 7. A beta of both Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC for Windows 7 (Professional and Ultimate Editions only) are coming soon, the Softies said.

Neither of these new technologies seems to be in the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) build that a number of testers began downloading via torrents at the end of this week, and which is due to go to MSDN and TechNet subscribers on April 30 (something Microsoft also is now acknowledging publicly). The public will be able to download the RC as of May 5.

It will be interesting to see how — and when — XP Mode and Virtual PC are delivered in final form. Will they be for Software Assurance customers only (the only way that Windows customers currently can obtain Microsoft client-virtualization technologies like App-V and MED-V)? Will they be delivered as free, out-of-band updates for Windows 7 — the way Hyper-V initially was for Windows Server 2008?

May-Jo also wonders if this will only be available to volume license customers. I simply wonder if the many small businesses she speaks of are on volume licensing. Not ever being in on any volume licensing purchase decisions, I don’t know specific costs, but I have never worked with, or known of, any businesses under 50 seats where volume licensing was used.  Since I have spoken with some of those businesses at length, I make the assumption that someone in finance decided that 50 was a magic number. This leaves many of what I call small businesses out.

Nonetheless, if Microsoft keeps this for Volume License customers, it will be one less reason for the user on the street to even think about the switch.

Mary-Jo thinks so too – as she answers a feedback questioner -

Will it require SA?
Hi. I agree: We do not know for sure if MS will require users to have SA or not to use this feature. But to date, MS has made its client side virtualization technologies available only to those who have volume licenses. It’s a carrot to try to make them sign up. I will be surprised if Microsoft removes this carrot, giving users one less reason to sign up for SA…. But so far, that is just a guess on my part. MJ

So those not exalted to the Volume License level might not want to cheer just yet. Mary-Jo has been an insider to Microsoft for quite some time, and when she says that the trend is… well, it is.

The question then becomes, with this in mind, will it ever be available to the wider public?

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