Virtual PC 2007 made available

Microsoft said Tuesday that it is ready with the latest version of its virtualization software, Virtual PC 2007. The software, slated to be available for download from Microsoft's Web site, is optimized for Vista, allowing users to run older operating systems from within Microsoft's latest Windows. Volume license customers running Windows Vista Enterprise Edition are allowed to run up to four additional virtual instances of Windows on their PC, while consumers can freely download Virtual PC, but need to license any other copies of Windows.

Microsoft also said it is ready with final versions of several other tools aimed at easing Vista migration, including a hardware assessment adviser that helps businesses evaluate which of its existing PCs are suitable for upgrading to Vista. Other tools include an application compatibility toolkit as well as tools for helping businesses handle the activation and manage product keys for large numbers of Vista PCs.