Windows 7 Enterprise virtualization -- which will all be delivered under the optional MDOP deliverable - has four possible configurations: presentation virtualization (video, perhaps audio, keyboard and mouse), desktop virtualization (Hyper-V and Virtual PC product-based), profile virtualization (user states and configuration), and application virtualization.

Application virtualization, via Microsoft's -- is the most interesting prospect here. This process allows application sandboxing -- which is execution of applications on external servers -- in a seamless fashion as though the application is running on the local machine. This trick, called Coherence by competitor Parallels, sends keyboard, video and mouse commands from the Windows 7 client to the application -- and back -- from the host where the application is being executed. Users aren't aware that the application (and ostensibly the data) doesn't reside on their own hardware.

Expected Windows everywhere?

With the description of what will be included in Windows 7 Enterprise bundle, it's quite clear that Microsoft has taken to heart the fact that Vista hasn't been strongly adopted in the enterprise, mainly because of its perceived incompatibilities and mixed messages.

It is also clear that Microsoft is not veering very far from its homogenous underpinnings.