If it seems like VMware is a favorite with IT audiences, it's because they are. With each new reader poll that comes out asking about virtualization favorites, VMware stands tall and sticks out above the rest. They are the undisputed heavy weight champions when it comes to virtualization, and its users rally to the cause whenever these types of questions are asked. For the most part, its user base is made up of If it seems like VMware is a favorite with IT audiences, it’s because they are. With each new reader poll that comes out asking about virtualization favorites, VMware stands tall and sticks out above the rest. They are the undisputed heavy weight champions when it comes to virtualization, and its users rally to the cause whenever these types of questions are asked. For the most part, its user base is made up of hardcore virtualization users who are fans of the product. So much so, if virtualization were compared to college football, you might expect that VMware users would be tailgating, blue and white body painted fanatics who would proudly wear a virtual machine or virtual appliance on their head if they could. Hardcore fans of the product have helped VMware get to the top, and these same raving fans have allowed VMware to win yet another honor, “Best of the Best” from Windows IT Pro readers.Windows IT Pro readers named VMware ESX Server the Best Virtualization Software Product and VMware Capacity Planner the Top Capacity Planning and Trend Analysis Software Product. Readers also recognized other VMware products as solid picks in several Windows IT Pro categories: VMware Player in the Best New Product category, VMware VirtualCenter in the Best Applications and Operations Management Tool category, VMware VirtualCenter in the Best Remote Management Tool category, VMware VirtualCenter with VMotion technology in the Best Enterprise Backup/Recovery/Archive Software category, VMware ACE in the Best Proxy Server/Web Access Control and Monitoring Solution category and VMware Workstation in the Best Software Deployment Tool category.“The 2006 Windows IT Pro Readers’ Choice awards continue our tradition of honoring products that our readers tell us are most worthy of recognition,” said Kim Paulsen, group publisher of Windows IT Pro. “These are the hardware, software and services that measure up where it counts most — in the businesses, agencies and institutions that rely on them to deliver what they promise.” Paulsen continued: “The IT pros who voted in this year’s awards are tough, in-the-trenches critics. They demand solid value and performance from the products they use and put those products to the test day after day. Readers’ Choice award winners can feel proud that the products they develop have earned the respect and recognition of the IT world’s most knowledgeable and exacting professionals.” The Readers’ Choice awards were first given in 2002 to let Windows IT Pro readers evaluate and recommend the best technology products in the industry. This year more than 5,200 readers were asked to choose their favorite products and services from a pool of more than 750 entries in 12 broad technology categories. “VMware ESX Server, now part of the comprehensive VMware Infrastructure 3 suite that includes built-in management and availability, has delivered simplified and cost-reduced IT operations for more than a million enterprise server workloads to date,” said Brian Byun, vice president of products and alliances at VMware. “These products have become the defacto standard for many companies building out their virtual infrastructure, and are now simpler than ever to implement with the availability of newer tools such as VMware Capacity Planner.” Additional information about the Windows IT Pro Readers’ Choice Awards can be found, here. Software Development