You can now download Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1 for free.  Microsoft will also be offering Virtual PC 2007 for free.

I prefer VMware workstation for a few different reasons but I don’t know what features that Virtual PC 2007 will have when it comes out (besides the announced support for Vista).

Here is the timeline for free virtualization over the past year.   I really like this trend and I have to wonder when VMWare is going to release VMware Workstation for free in response to Microsoft’s move.  I am sure it is inevitable as the feature difference between the two cannot justify spending $189 from VMware for very long.  Especially if Virtual PC 2007 is just around the corner…

• February 2006 – VMware makes VMware Server a free product.
• April 2006 – Microsoft makes Virtual Server a free product.
• July 2006 – Microsoft makes Virtual PC a free product.
• ???? – VMware makes VMware Workstation a free product.