while ESX sits on bare metal. MS can't do what ESX can, so they're giving it away, and VMware have answered with VMplayer.

The only ground Microsoft have left to gain in virtualisation is application virtualisation. They should be positioning towards SoftGrid instead - that's their one offering that sounds like a killer app

MikeC

VMware threatens Intel's sales because it promotes server consolidation. Higher CPU usage under VMware = lower sales of Intel processors. Having a seat on the board helps Intel better assess the direction of the industry. This is cheap insurance for Intel.