Novell’s Suse Linux 10 was the landmark operating system launch of the year, giving us a bigger and badder Linux server and a startlingly smooth Linux desktop. We also got good looks at Microsoft Vista and Windows Longhorn betas, and at BEA’s venerable WebLogic 9.1.

No offense to OSes and app servers, but if we had to pick a platform of the year it would have to be the hypervisor. Virtualization attacked on all fronts in 2006, with VMware, Scalent, and SWSoft scoring high marks at the server, Altiris and Parallels leading at the desktop, and VMware/Akimbi and Surgient pointing the way in virtual lab management.

To view summary evaluations of every Platforms product from 2006, download the PDF of this section from InfoWorld IT Exec-Connect.

More 2006 Year in Reviews:
**IT Exec-Connect members: Download all the PDFs for the entire 2006 Year in Reviews free.

Not a member yet? Register here for free, then discuss Year in Reviews at the InfoWorld Connect blog.

**Visit the Product Guide to view and compare all reviews from the InfoWorld Test Center

**Back to 2006 Year in Reviews