Software Deployment

I think MSI failed to fully address some of the problems it was meant to solve as well as adding significant complexity to software deployment. I don't want to completely fault MSI because there are plenty of bad developers out there as well. I hate to see Software Virtualization go mainstream for idealistic reasons but unless you can get the computing world in general to release better code I think this is the way packaging is going to go. I'm glad Altiris is in the game because it is giving the Application Virtualization realm some credit as being a legitimate solution. Before Altris came on the block it was hard to get people to even look at Softricity. Now the battle is on to offer Software Virtualization. I beleive Altiris pushed Microsoft into the arena and thats why you see Softgrid technology being offered with SMS. I think the rest of the systems management products are now in a scramble to offer some sort of Application Virtualization technology.