Microsoft stories on BrianMadden.com

Does Microsoft have a desktop virtualization strategy? Regardless of how they'd answer that question, the reality is that Microsoft affects almost every aspect of the desktop virtualization and VDI space. We use Windows as our VDI remote system. We use Windows for our applications. Most of our back-ends run Windows. And now Microsoft has entered the desktop virtualization race with Hyper-V and RemoteFX, so they certainly have a lot going on!

The return of the Start menu? Word is spreading that Microsoft is set to give in on Windows 8 and stop shoving tablet features down the throat of desktops

Word that Windows 8 isn't selling well is probably only surprising to the people that have bought Windows 8 devices so far, because in enterprises around the world the OS has barely gotten any attention other than by the same tortured souls that tried...

by Gabe Knuth on May 09, 2013 : 10 comments , 3,477 views
Microsoft is creating a Windows remote desktop-as-a-service offering based on Azure? How disruptive will 'Mohoro' be?

Yesterday, Mary Jo Foley broke the news that Microsoft is developing a service based on Azure that will offer pay-per-use Windows desktops dubbed "Mohoro" . According to her, this is in the very early development stages and is not expected to be released...

by Gabe Knuth on May 02, 2013 : 4 comments , 4,657 views
XP Paid Support: US$1 Million for 5,000 desktops for first year. Seems astronomically high, but if you need it, is it really?

We're now under one year to go until the end of life date for Windows XP , which Brian wrote about a few weeks ago. The relatively short article opened up a flood of comments talking about whether or not there are elevated security risks for running XP...

by Gabe Knuth on April 19, 2013 : 2 comments , 3,016 views
Will Windows Blue kill the desktop? No!

I can't believe we have to have this conversation again. Microsoft's plans for their update to Windows 8 (codenamed Windows "Blue") have started to leak out, and many are claiming it will kill the desktop. <sigh> So since I know you're probably...

by Brian Madden on April 01, 2013 : 2 comments , 7,291 views
What's the future of Windows in the enterprise? Middleware.

A big part of my desktop virtualization road show talks is "The Future of Windows in the Enterprise." As you're well aware, while I love VDI technology, I believe that VDI is simply a "form factor" change for desktops that doesn't fundamentally transform...

by Brian Madden on March 26, 2013 : 6 comments , 4,251 views
Project VRC's State of the Industry survey results: 32% of VDI is stateless, and over 50% of companies don't use third party UEM. These results and more!

Last year, Project VRC invited people around the world complete an extensive survey that asked them to describe their desktop virtualization environment. 662 people took part in the survey, and since it closed, Project VRC has been busy making sense of...

by Gabe Knuth on March 14, 2013 : 7 comments , 9,778 views
Ok, I'm over Android thin clients, but Windows RT thin clients just might work!

As noted below by Martin Sheppard, what follows is not actually feasible . The only way you get the ability to access a VDI desktop is if the Windows RT device is a companion to a device that already has SA. So yes, this would work, as long as they had...

by Gabe Knuth on March 01, 2013 : 8 comments , 4,690 views
Who wants to manage all the "gunk" of Windows just to deliver one app? When will you ditch Windows on the endpoint?

We all know that the Windows operating system was designed in the early 90s when computers were used ways that were nothing like they're used today. Even today's latest, greatest Windows 8 touch-based OS still has the 20-year legacy of the registry, DLLs...

by Brian Madden on February 19, 2013 : 5 comments , 4,847 views
Why move to Windows 8 for Office 13, Office 365 and SkyDrive when you can do it all with Windows 7?

As a continuation of the management features of Windows 8 that I wrote last week , today's article is about how Office, Office 365, and SkyDrive fit into the equation. Office is obviously a huge part of business, and Office 365 is creeping into the collective...

by Gabe Knuth on February 06, 2013 : 5 comments , 8,493 views
Many claim Apple's 128GB iPad is a threat to Microsoft Surface. Is this true?

Yesterday Apple announced that they'll release a 128GB version of the iPad. (This is not a next generation iPad, rather, it's the same one they're currently selling with an option for 128GB.) Many are claiming this is something that Apple is doing specifically...

by Brian Madden on January 30, 2013 : 2 comments , 4,119 views
App-V versus ThinApp? That's an unfair question to me.

After my video comparing App-V 4 and 5 went up on BrianMadden.com, I was asked the following question on twitter: Do you think new App-v could be better than ThinApp?" In part, I tweeted back that is was an unfair question to ask me. Perhaps I should...

by Tim Mangan on January 25, 2013 : 4 comments , 5,993 views
Can Intel-based Windows 8 Pro tablets ever come close to the low power and long batteries of ARM-based devices?

Earlier this week I wrote an article (well, a rant) about Microsoft Surface tablets running Windows RT. (Actually it was a rant against Windows RT in general.) I closed the rant by saying, "By the way, I'm looking forward to the Surface Pro and the other...

by Brian Madden on January 24, 2013 : 8 comments , 11,168 views
Microsoft should be ashamed at how awful the Surface RT tablet is. (The rant to end all rants)

Okay, I know that everyone is dogging on the Microsoft Surface RT tablet these days. I knew Windows RT had its issues, but beyond some cursory playing around, I never really sat down and tried to use one until today. And let me tell you—it's bad...

by Brian Madden on January 22, 2013 : 23 comments , 11,986 views
I've been using Windows Phone 8 for a day. Here's what I think.

A little over 24 hours ago, I became a full-time Windows Phone 8 user. I have a 16GB HTC 8X , and it's activated on my primary cell plan, so I'm committed (and forced) to using it. I'm a little bit surprised, but so far I like it a lot. We don't usually...

by Jack Madden on January 11, 2013 : 7 comments , 2,586 views
Office for iOS: A lose-lose proposition for Microsoft

Not too long ago, mobile workers viewed Microsoft Office as their productivity savior -- the one app that would break their last PC chains and make them true road warriors. Microsoft executives probably felt the same way, envisioning the day when Office...

by Colin Steele on December 12, 2012 : 3 comments , 1,946 views
With Sinofsky gone, is there hope for a Microsoft monopoly getting it together and hosting Windows desktops on Azure?

Brian recently posted a really interesting discussion about hosting Windows on Azure and the barriers Microsoft puts up. I see two issues at play here. The Microsoft client business model, and Microsoft's definition of VDI. VDI is not just about a desktop...

by appdetective on December 07, 2012 : 8 comments , 4,088 views
If Microsoft hosted Windows VDI desktops from Azure, would they have to respect their own EULA?

On yesterday's podcast Gabe, Jack, and I were joined by Dan Brinkmann and Jarian Gibson . We spent most of the show talking about Citrix licensing, though at one point the conversation veered towards hosted desktops. We were talking about bits that vendors...

by Brian Madden on December 05, 2012 : 6 comments , 7,128 views
What’s more important to Microsoft: Tablets that run Windows, or Office on iOS & Android?

There’s been another round of rumors about Microsoft Office apps for iOS and Android, but the evidence is still shaky. Microsoft still hasn’t officially announced anything or even publicly acknowledged that they’re planning to bring...

by Jack Madden on November 14, 2012 : 1 comments , 6,289 views
Microsoft's man in charge of creating Windows 8, Steven Sinofsky, was fired today! Is it because Windows 8 sucks so bad?

The Internet lit up last night with the news that Microsoft's head of Windows Steven Sinofsky has left the company, effective immediately, according to a company-wide email sent by CEO Steve Ballmer. ( Business Insider , AllThingsD , TechCrunch ) Should...

by Brian Madden on November 13, 2012 : 10 comments , 17,420 views
Windows Phone 8 brings new MDM (mobile device management) features to the table!

The latest version of Windows Phone was released yesterday at an event here in San Francisco. While everybody was admiring the new phones (with their indeterminate release dates), I was talking to the folks at AirWatch, learning how mobile device management...

by Jack Madden on October 30, 2012 : 5 comments , 10,807 views

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