If you attended VMworld 2007 in SFO, you will understand my confusion. The theme last year seemed to be, “We totally rock. Look at our cool stuff. No other vendor compares. No one else even understands virtualization. If you have not already virtualized your entire data center, you are losing money right this minute, you poor fools.” Even fledgling GCG staff were aghast at the hubris of it all. Only the pompoms were missing.

And this year? To paraphrase: Our focus is on providing business value to customers (yes, yes, yes!) by moving in three main directions: Virtual DataCenter O/S, the vCloud Initiative, and the vClient Initiative. Our roots are in desktops, and we are going after that untapped market. End users want seamless mobile computing, and we intend to deliver it to them. We aspire to be a platform player. Our partners are a key part of our success…

The grownups are definitely in charge, and that’s a positive thing for VMware employees who spoke off the record about their company’s recent change in management. There’s no question that people loved Diane Greene and have great respect for the level to which she took the company. But they’re enthusiastic about Paul Maritz, too. VMware is an engineering company, and Paul is an engineer, and he “gets it,” according to one of his new employees. “You get this great idea, and you take it to Paul, but no matter what you’ve come up with, he’s already thought of it and is three steps ahead. It’s really challenging, but it’s also really exciting.” Indeed. Just as exciting as it is for the rest of us to hear about the company’s focus on anticipating, and aiming to fulfill, customers’ business needs.

Final note: those cartoon heads modeled upon actual employees, partners, and customers… I’m not gonna lie; I want one of myself. They were awesome.