In a move reminiscent of its “Get the Facts” anti-Linux campaign, Microsoft is waging war on VMware with a customer-focused Web site that provides the Redmondian spin on how its products stack up against the competition.

The Burton Group Data Center Strategies blog highlighted Microsoft’s new virtualization site, with the URL “VMwareCostsWayTooMuch.com,” in a post on Friday. Burton Research Director Drue Reeves noted that Microsoft representatives were handing out cards with the URL outside VMware’s user conference in Las Vegas last week until they were asked to leave the premises. Reeves called Microsoft’s strategy “childish.” He also questioned Microsoft’s core contention that VMware is more expensive than its comparable offerings. From his post:

“It’s a bit disingenuous of Microsoft to say VMware is ‘way too expensive’ when Windows Server comes with what Chris Wolf terms as “a Virtualization Tax”. Chris states that ‘If you’re virtualizing a Windows server OS today, MS licensing restrictions will force you to buy Windows 2008 data center edition, which as you know includes Hyper-V. To say VMware costs more is disingenuous.’ I agree. In order to get true VM mobility with Hyper-V data center edition is required. All the other editions either restrict mobility or restrict the number of VMs(virtual machines).”

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