VMWare ThinApp 4.5: Accelerating Windows 7 Migrations?

VMWare is launching ThinApp 4.5 for your customers’ Windows 7 migration virtualization needs. Here are the potential implications for VARs or MSPs who are dealing with migration issues or legacy application.

For those who don’t know, ThinApp is basically an an application that “virtualizes” an application of your choice. It looks at an app, crunches all the information on it, figures out what dependencies and Windows ‘environment’ is ideal for it to run, and creates a little ‘virtualization’ package for it to run in. The beauty in it is that you can then run the new ‘packaged’ application independent of the OS it was built or running on. You can get the skinny on the new version here, but the benefits should seem pretty obvious right now as to why this would be ideal for Windows 7 migration.

VMware ThinApp may also offer some financial benefits. With Windows 7 adoption starting to pick up, businesses need compatibility like crazy, and as little down time as possible. Internal apps that were written way-back-when might need to still run in Windows 7, without having a development team write a new version. In theory, ThinApp 4.5 addresses that need — saving time and money while protecting your customers’ application investments.

In a press release, VMware claims:

“VMware data shows that leveraging ThinApp 4.5 for application virtualization can reduce the costs associated with migration by as much as 25% while migrating systems up to 40% faster by accelerating the application compatibility, testing and deployment processes required for application migration…”

VMware ThinApp 4.5 new features include:

• Broad Windows 64-bit support – supports 32-bit and 64-bit Windows from NT to Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2.
• An upgrade path from older ThinApp Applications with Relink; convert existing ThinApps to the new ThinApp 4.5 format without the need of associated project files for the applications.
• Advanced Performance Accelerator – reduced page file usage for virtual applications allows for quicker application invocation and reduces network bandwidth by as much as 50%.
• Secure Registry Journaling Protection – ensure registry file integrity and eliminate potential data corruption due to crash or system failure.
• Enhanced Community Support – enables sharing of application packaging status and techniques in the ThinApp Community Portal.

VMware also noted that ThinApp streamlines “application security, updates, patches and performance” and can ‘instantly’ deliver that new packaged app to nearly any device.

You can get your hands on ThinApp 4.5 “generally” on March 17, 2010. It’ll be available through the traditional places like VMware sales, OEM partners and channel partners. The price tag? The entire ThinApp Suite is (US)$5,000.00. But VMware ThinApp is also bundled in View Premier for $250 per concurrent user.

We’ll be watching to see if ThinApp helps VARs with their Windows 7 migration projects.

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