It is a shame that Diane Greene is being put through the wringer like this. But it may be good for users and VMware that a Microsoft exec is being asked to lead. Microsoft's release of Hyper-V will almost certainly lead to eventual doom for VMware unless VMware can come up with some kind of technological angle that will make vast numbers of Windows users want to stick with it (and pay big bucks for it) instead of moving to Hyper-V.
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Microsoft - would you really want to say that?
Microsoft was never a thought leader, it was a voracious business competitor. I really fear that this change will lead to the stagnation of ideas and a Microsoft-esque approach to winning via license.
VMware is clearly the leader, let's see if he drives it into the ground.
The Netscape of the 21st Century
VMware finds itself in the unenviable position of being the Netscape of the early 21st century. Netscape might have been the browser of choice at one time, even after IE came out. But Microsoft, in its typical tradition, improved IE enough, included it with their OS, and made it free. As a user, why would I want to use a 3rd party browser when I already have one integrated into the OS?
We are now at that same stage: we have the Microsoft hypervisor v1 competing with the more mature and feature rich VMware v3.5. Nobody will really switch, at least not right away. People will dabble and try it out, find some uses for it, complain about lack of features, bugs, and so on, but will use it nonetheless. VMware will see a small dent in its market but it'll be no big deal. Microsoft will come out with Microsoft's hypervisor v2 in a year that will almost be good as VMware. More people will switch to it, things will work better, businesses will start asking why they should pay VMware's high price when the Microsoft offering is free. When v3 of the Microsoft hypervisor comes out, it'll be close enough that people will stop caring about VMware and move in mass to Microsoft's solution.
At this point, VMware will complain, and may even throw a few lawsuits around. But just like Netscape, just like Novell, their time will have past and they will fade into the dustbin of technology.
If you don't think this scenario true, ask yourself: why would the Board of Directors fire one of the company's founders? I do not know the answer to this question; I wasn't there. I can, however, imagine what went on during the BoD meeting. Then they have the audacity to bring in someone from Microsoft to run the company. Even worse, they put him on the BoD as a voting member. None of this bodes well for VMware's future.
I know if I had VMware stock, I would dump it as soon as I could. There is no way expensive VMware can compete for long with a free solution from Microsoft.
When you give up control, you never know what is next...
Congrats to Diane on the wonderful job she has done at VMware. When you give up control, you are at the mercy of those who think they know best. Diane chose LOTS of money over control. Not a bad choice, but one that means she is no longer in charge. That is a shame since she brought an entrepreneurial leadership style into EMC which they themselves desperately need. Leadership from MSFT ranks will only make EMC an even stodgier company in the future. Best wishes Diane in your future endeavors, whatever they may be. In hindsight, this might turn out to be the best time to exit personally. VMware can fall a long ways down.
A Cloud Computing Division?????
You've gotta be kidding me. That should have told her she was in trouble.
Comment
The Diane's of the industry should be acknowledged for their understanding of why products fail when they are consumed...
Taking what was an industry leading concept to fruition, becoming quite successful...
This is the thanks we all get for paving the way for innovation...
This is what keeps the industry going...
Shame on all those who sell-out so quickly...
When I first learned to play chess as a child, the pawns were the first to be sacrificed in order for the kingdom to prevail...
In whatever you want to call what we are doing now, the pawns on both sides of the board are looking backwards trying to figure out what is happening behind them, there is no respectable kingdom of honor and trust and integrity in what they do...
Now we are turning on ourselves to prevent any reckoning...
Men Win!
Clearly, the board wanted someone with more facial hair.
Awesome
Maybe VMWare will go the way of Netscape. It is a horrible and useless product.
Goodby
I agree VMWare couldn't go under fast enough for me. Everyone should use MS Hypervisor and let VMWare go by the way of the dodo bird......
So long VMware...
VMware has had a good run and managed to fill their pockets with bundles of cash. I could see the end coming for quite some time, begining when they began pushing sales $$ and not their products. I work for a fortune 100 company and we do use their products but it makes me ill give their slick Porche-driving salesmen all of those orders and listen to them brag about how much money they make.
It seems like they may be getting exactly what they have been asking for...
To the above posters
The posts above are as idiotic as they come. Buy a microsoft product..I think not. Vmware going under..Hardly!!! Envious cause somone has a nicer car than you...Grow Up!! Vmware isnt going anywher folks.