Quoting SearchServerVirtualization.com

Mike Neil, Microsoft general manager for virtualization strategy, is "surprised" that IT organizations are so eager to virtualize their desktop. While Microsoft has moved quickly to meet users' demands in this area -- by changing Vista licensing, for instance -- Neil thinks most virtual desktop technologies are not ready for adoption by mainstream IT.

Application virtualization, virtual desktop infrastructure and all topics relating to centralizing desktops via virtualization were hot topics at the Server Blade Summit in Anaheim, Calif., last week. SearchServerVirtualization.com met with Neil there to discuss the topic.

SearchServerVirtualization.com: Has the interest in centralizing desktops via virtualization catch Microsoft by surprise?

Mike Neil: I'm somewhat surprised at how quickly companies are investing in these technologies without the proven track record. It may be a little bit of the tail wagging the dog scenario, where the company is making the decision to centralize due to various problems and then thinking about virtualization for solving those problems, rather than the other way around.

We were fairly nimble in reacting with the [Vista for VDI] licensing. Feedback from customers has been positive. We didn't know exactly what would be the model and how this was going to congeal, so we did it in a way to be flexible and let the customer make those choices. We'll see how that settles out in the market.

Read the entire interview, here.