Microsoft continues to fine tune the license agreement of Windows Vista. The latest modifications introduced by the Redmond Company involve enabling customers to run Windows Vista on diskless PCs and in virtual machines centralized on server hardware. Unfortunately, the changes do not impact the whole Windows customer base, as there are designed to tailor fit the needs of enterprise customers. In fact, the new licenses will be available only to Microsoft's Software Assurance customers.

"For Software Assurance customers using Windows Vista Enterprise, we're adding two new ways to license and deploy the operating system. They are:
1) The license right to use Windows Vista on diskless PCs
2) The availability of a subscription license called Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktops (VECD) which allows customers to use Windows in virtual machines centralized on server hardware," revealed Scott Woodgate, director in the Windows Business Group.

These changes do not imply any additional costs on behalf of the Software Assurance customers as they are but extensions to the exiting Software Assurance license. The revamped license will enable enterprise customers to run Windows Vista with the operating system and applications moved to centralized storage hardware such as a Storage Area Network (SAN) from a diskless machine.

Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop will "enable customers to deploy and run Windows Vista Enterprise in virtual machines on server hardware. It provides a Windows experience that is centrally executed in the datacenter and delivered out to either PCs or thin clients. Using VECD with PCs provides a flexible combination of local and remote computing including mobility and off-line usage," Woodgate added.