The second improvement, scalable virtual images, is a technique that VMware believes will reduce management overhead and storage costs, for all those VMs for users. Desktop virtualization users will have a "master" virtual machine with "child" VMs that store only the differences in that individual user's VM as compared to the master. This means much less storage space is required per user. It also means when you roll out a new app or patch, you just update the master.

As for when exactly we'll see these technologies roll out, Chen won't say just yet. But there's no question that VMware moves a lot quicker than its "new" rival, Microsoft.

But what hurdles does VMware still face as it tries to sell enterprise IT on desktop virtualization? With the long-simmering resentment about how hard it is to manage Microsoft Windows desktops, and the current skepticism of Vista, what else is holding up IT acceptance of desktop virtualization?

Multimedia formats like rich video still have some performance issues in a virtualized desktop environment, Chen says. New graphics and monitor technologies may help. Also, IT works on long-cherished desktop PC refresh cycles, so widespread change on user desktops doesn't happen fast, he notes.

But working in VMware's favor, Chen believes, is the fact that we've moved out of what VMware calls the consolidate phase (that first wave of virtualization) and into the automate phase. If you talk to an IT leader about virtualization now, it's all about management and automation, Chen says. That's not surprising: who do you know that wouldn't like to know how to reduce PC management costs, improve security and simplify management?

VMware is also counting on the fact that IT wants a set of management tools that cover virtualized servers and virtualized desktops in one. So is Citrix (known for its thin client roots,) which is going to be making a lot of hype and noise at its user conference being held in Houston next week.

So you tell me: Is virtualization enough of a "how" for your enterprise on the desktop yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Will VMware's two big ideas change your mind? What do you want to see from VMware, Microsoft or Citrix to convince you to dump those devilish desktop clunkers once and for all?