Probably the last thing you would expect to hear is that Microsoft is trying to restrict the machines that their new operating system can run on. After all, don't they want as many computers running Vista as possible (legally)? Well, Microsoft is actually forcing anyone who wants to emulate Vista to buy Vista Business or Vista Ultimate.

I'm simply aghast at this move. It's as if Microsoft is trying to cut down Parallels Workstation usage, the Mac OS X software that allows you to virutalize Windows and other operating systems.

There is no technical reason for this move, either. The processors that run on Macs are identical to the ones on a PC. Which I should clarify: I would suppose that it's still allowed to run Home editions of Vista on Mac, provided that you're using Boot Camp to run the software natively, and not emulated with VMWare or Parallels. The same applies to Microsoft's free Virtual PC 2007; you must buy Business or Ultimate version of Vista if you want it emulated.

ITWire says that Microsoft is striking against the pirates by trying to raise the costs of using Vista. They've also implemented extra security measures, too. ITWire reports that if in Windows XP the server doesn't think the copy if valid, you are unable to download updates. In Vista, they say that your entire session is disabled, "offering you only a 1 hour session with a web browser at your disposal".

However, I do not believe this to be the case. For one thing, most of the piracy was not actually happening by people emulating Windows, it was the Bittorent addicts who downloaded and installed it natively on their system, in which case the edition wouldn't matter, even if it were an issue when running it natively on the computer.

Regardless of Microsoft's motive, this is quite surprising to say the least, and it is likely to cut down the popularity of Vista on the Mac platform, not to mention the sales of Parallels and VMWare...