Will VDI Drive Windows 7 Migration?

As companies are considering Windows 7 migration, it turns out that one of the driving factors in accelerating adoption may be desktop virtualization, at least according to some of the experts. Although desktop virtualization has not caught on as quickly and extensively as some of the leading pundits had predicted, the move to Windows 7 might be a catalyst for increased adoption. InfoWorld lists Windows 7 migration as the top reason to consider virtualization in 2011 and quotes Jim Curtin, president and CEO of Virtual Bridges, as follows: “Virtualization can save on buying new desktops, it can allow you to run in parallel on existing machines, it can allow you to enable users with the check of a box -– and it can do it at a fraction of the budget.”

Curtin’s points are backed by research released yesterday from Ireland, where a leading value-added distributor, Data Solutions, announced results of a survey that shows 30 percent of Irish companies plan to deploy desktop virtualization and, of those that plan to deploy it, 63 percent said they will deploy it in 2011. The company had also done research in the U.K. and found a significant increase in the number of planned desktop virtualization installations. The study found that in 2009 only 35 percent of UK businesses were planning to or already had deployed a desktop virtualization project, compared to 82 percent by the end of 2010.

The main reason given by those organizations deploying desktop virtualization was the long-term measurable costs savings they can achieve, coupled with the efficiencies it brings to the overall organization. Those surveyed also see migration to Windows 7 as a key driving factor for desktop virtualization adoption in 2011 “as it will help to reduce the associated migration costs and the lengthy implementation process.”

For another real interesting take on the topic, check out this interview with VDI expert Brian Madden for the Web site SiliconAngle.TV. Madden notes that VDI is a huge threat to Microsoft, but one that the company will roll into an opportunity. One excerpt: “If Microsoft wanted 100 million users using desktop virtualization by the end of next year they could do it in an instant. They won’t, but they could.”

What do you think? Is desktop virtualization a driving factor for Windows 7 migration and, if so, what is Microsoft’s real attitude towards desktop virtualization?