Introduction:

Recently I read an article named

Best Practices for Integrating SoftGrid with Microsoft Terminal Services and Citrix Presentation Server

In this article it talks about some of the advantages of using the Microsoft SoftGrid Product in a Presentation Server Farm, and highlights advantages over using the Citrix Isolation envinomnet.

But wait, Citrix is also working on the same type of Application Virtualization and Streaming technology with project Tarpon. Which appears to me to be the same type of product. And will be released most likely the same time as Presentation Server 4.5.

Are we going to be torn between these 2 products?

Microsoft SoftGrid:

Microsoft has purchased Softricity for the application streaming product, which has matured for several years in the industry, and has become the leader in this technology.

Microsoft SoftGrid HomePage


Citrix Project Tarpon:

Citrix is working on a new product presently named "Project Tarpon" an application delivery product. Which is essentially Application Virutalization that streams applications to the desktop or Citrix Presentation Server in an Isolated environment. Or it can deliver the packaged Isolation application to the desktop or Presentation server to be launched at a later date and providing better overall perfomance than streaming.

A nice feature of Tarpon that I liked was the ablility to install 2 applications into the package, for example the Oracle Client and the client side application.

The technology preview for Citrix (Project Tapon) is downloadable at the MyCitrix website.

Citrix Project Tarpon HomePage


Summary:

In comparing these products, right off the bat I will have to say that SoftGrid has years of maturity in the industry over the new Citrix Streaming technology.

But if Citrix ends up including Tarpon in Enterprise PS4.5 without a price increase, then one could say this could save a considerable amount of money. However, that will probably not happen, I can't see Citrix just adding this as a feature to PS4.5. For streaming applications to Desktop PC's will require an additional license per PC. At least thats the word on the street.

I've seen the Tarpon demo and am quite impressed with the performance and features. Citrix could catch up pretty fast to the Microsoft SoftGrid, but only time will tell.

ScottC