Comparing App-V, ThinApp and XenApp and then some SWS

As I was trawling through my numerous RSS and update feeds I came across an interesting article on the differences between some of the primary virtualisation technologies from Microsoft, Citrix and VMWare. You can read the article here: http://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/feature/Application-virtualization-comparison-XenApp-vs-ThinApp-vs-App-V

The are some interesting comparisons between the three technologies that includes the following:
VMware ThinApp,  XenApp and App-V.

Where ThinApp delivers the following benefits

• ThinApp from VMWare offer the following benefits;
• ThinApp can deliver offline applications (XenApp can't, and App-V sometimes can)
• No drivers or software required to configure the ThinApp environment
• Minimal Admin rights requirements for remote installations
• Most portable of these three virtualisation technologies

Citrix's XenApp compares well other virtualization technologies and also offers a distribution and streaming functionality in addition to the following benefits;

• Not just a virtualisation technology for a complete distribution and streaming suite
• XenApp works well with Microsoft's App-V
• XenApp 6.5 offers a mobility pack that speeds application delivery to mobile devices
• XenApp supports new and old (legacy) application streaming and virtualization

Microsoft App-V, the desktop virtualization offering from Microsoft (note that I did not mention the sever virtualisation offering) delivers the following key benefits;

• App-V delivers a centrally managed administration and virtualisation environment
• Offers a deployment and tracking web-based alternative through Silverlight
• Microsoft's DirectAccess offers App-V packages over limited WAN environments
• App-V now integrates with Windows to Go

There are plenty other virtualization tools out there (I like Spoon) and don't forget Symantec's SWVS  platform which offers the following benefits;

• On-demand application streaming 
• Dynamic license management 
• Single-click application upgrades
• Disconnected Usage Capability

If you are looking for a good backgrounder on desktop and server virtualization, you check out TechTarget's Virtualisation overview here: http://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/tutorial/The-Ultimate-Guide-to-Application-Virtualization