Yet another article from you with no meat. Maybe you've been too busy looking for the bad points from each vendor but both have been out trying to help customers for a LONG time. I work for VMware and sell VMware product on a daily basis. In all competitive accounts I simply talk about the value that VMware brings to the table today. Usually that alone will convince a customer to use our stuff instead of Microsoft's. I'm sure the Microsoft people are out there doing the same thing.

The other marketing FUD that gets put out there only serves as fodder for disingenuous reporters and bloggers to drive people to their site to make ad revenue. I haven't met very many customers that can't see through the FUD for what it really is.

Also, one small correction to this statement: "That's why Microsoft apparatchiks were handing out flyers and why VMware had them kicked off the premises for it." It was actually the Nevada Gaming Commission that stopped Microsoft from handing out poker chips at a casino. The punishment is being banished from the casino for life as well as jail time.

I would also like to point out that Microsoft had several speaking sessions, a sizable booth, and was a Gold sponsor for the event. Not exactly sure how that's seen as VMware shutting them down. Perhaps it's a good time to ask why VMware is not allowed to speak at TechEd and other Microsoft events and is relegated to the smallest sizes of booths.

Time to take off your Microsoft hat, return the checks they send you, and start doing some real reporting for a change.

I find the switch part amusing, especially considering the small Norwegian company is lead by the head of Norways BSA division. For all practical purposes MS' pitbull.

Thanks for your feedback, Mike. The point isn't that VMware is the only one with too much vapor; it's that both VMware and Microsoft are focusing so much on each other that they're not paying attention to interoperability, training, development, cost and licensing issues that are important to customers.
Don't assume, btw, that I or anyone at CIO is critical only of one side in any vendor spitting match. Both Microsoft and VMware have accused me individually of bias against the other, which argues for some sort of balance at any rate.

http://www.cio.com/article/448463/Microsoft_Virtualization_Launch_Hype_Rinse_Repeat

http://www.cio.com/article/446372/Microsoft_Starts_Virtualization_Hype_Blitz