It figures

[unixronin]

July 13, 2006:  It is reported that Microsoft has made VirtualPC available as a free download.

August 10, 2006:  Microsoft gives VirtualPC the axe.

If you want to get it while you still can, the download page is here.

Update:

radarrider pointed out that VirtualPC is now available both for the Mac and for Windows, and it is only the Mac version that Microsoft is killing.  VirtualPC for Windows will still be developed.

Of course, this raises the baffling question of why Microsoft no longer wants to sell a product that allows Mac owners to run Windows on their Macs, but is going to continue to develop a product that allows owners of PCs to run non-Windows OSen under Windows.

Comments

[msa.livejournal.com]

Two words: Boot Camp

Now that Apple has finished replacing their PPC line with Intel machines, and is shipping code that lets them install and boot Windows on their Mac, for free, there's simply no point in maintaining their Mac product.

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

What precisely does Boot Camp do? I want to find a browser that will play flash games for Pirate and Wen on their G3 Macintoshes.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

It allows an Intel-based mac to boot either MacOSX or Windows. (Or, presumably, other OSen as well.)

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

True, if they intend to let all the people who still have PowerPC-based Macs just swing in the wind, or -- of course -- force them to upgrade or be left by the side of the road.

[msa.livejournal.com]

Well, forcing people to upgrade certainly puts dollars in their pockets, but it may not even be that sinister. It could simply be that they've decided they have a mature product for the PPC, and it is good enough to last out the service life of most people's PPC based Macs. I wouldn't want to keep a developer on a PPC product with Apple killing the line; he could be doing other things more likely to generate useful products and hence revenue.

And while dual booting isn't as convenient as emulation, it's a hell of a lot faster. And yes, you can install whatever you want with BC, including Linux. I am sorely tempted, as I just got a MacBook Pro from the office.

Addendum

[msa.livejournal.com]

It also explains why they'd release it freely. If they've decided it's mature, and don't expect any new sales with the death of the PPC mac, they might as well give it away.

It helps with their support headaches. Nobody expects much in support from a free product, even if they'd once paid for it.