Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) vs. VMware ThinApp (discontinued)

For large organizations that need software to update at the control of the IT department APP-V is a godsend to manage deployment based on AD group assignment, maintaining software versioning for specific services or upgrades, and areas where you need to make software available without having to install the entire package - the streaming portion of APP-v publishes a shortcut on the desktop, then streams the install on demand

Incentivized

VMware ThinApp is ideal for a business that is still using PCs over Thin Clients because often times when using web-based applications there are some that simply will not run in Internet Explorer 11. ThinApped packages are also much easier to deploy as the packages that I make, all you need to do is simply copy the folder into Program Files.

Incentivized

• It's incredibly customizable, integrates with Microsoft 365, and allows you to screen share with colleagues without even phoning them!
• Call quality is excellent, and the user interface is basic and intuitive enough that there is no need for any training.
• The user interface (UI) is quite professional, and it makes it simple to identify and operate the many features. And we record all of our meetings using Microsoft Teams as well.
• In my opinion, it's an excellent file-sharing application, and the ability to change the theme to dark is a personal preference.

Incentivized

• Virtualizes applications for easy deployment
• Allows you to run two versions of the same software at the same time.
• Outstanding customer support

Incentivized

• Complicated software installs of interacting software needs significant care
• Updating software requires a pristine virtual machine to update a packager
• No longer being updated so new software practices aren't correctly captured.

Incentivized

• VMware seems to have abandoned the product (no functionality evolutions, only security patches).
• VMware ThinApp is really difficult to buy standalone, it comes packaged with other products.

Incentivized

APP-V is no longer a supported technology and is on the way out, only on legacy support at this time. The changes in security emphasis in windows, as well as the changes in software development have meant that APP-V is no longer able to correctly package software. It has been superseded by the MSIX format and distribution via the Microsoft Store for Business.

Incentivized

Microsoft Teams is included in our current Office 365 product set; therefore, there is no additional fee to use the application. It saves our company money by not having to pay for Slack or another internal chat service. For us, Microsoft Teams has a better user experience and product features. Teams' usability is higher than Slack's since it has access to OneDrive, email, and OneNote applications. Screen sharing, chat, and file-sharing operate smoothly, and the performance appears great.

Incentivized

VMware ThinApp capturing and publishing is way more simple than the App-V approach, but App-V seems to be more suitable for the largest deployments. Application Virtualization seems to be less and less common today, as VDI approaches can solve some issues (like publishing apps from a virtual desktop instead of locally installed or virtualized packages).

Incentivized

• Some applications may be slower
• Interaction between several applications can be better

Incentivized

• VMware ThinApp allowed us to maintain older apps, avoiding refactoring costs.
• ThinApp used with VMware Horizon is great to separate desktop and app management, allowing to fine-tune desktop delivery to end users.

Incentivized