Q: What
is Windows CE?
Windows®
CE 3.0 is the modular, real-time, embedded operating system
for small footprint and mobile 32-bit intelligent and
connected devices that enables rich applications and services.
Windows CE 3.0 works on 12 different processor architectures
and on over 180 CPUs and is used in a broad range of devices
including industrial automation, retail and point of sale
devices, Internet access devices, “ruggedized”
and handheld portable PCs, high speed data acquisition
devices, and several consumer applications like game consoles
and set-top boxes. Since Windows CE 3.0 is highly modular
it can be easily customized to meet specific product requirements
with a minimum footprint of 400 kilobytes (KB).
Q: What
does CE stand for?
CE
is not an abbreviation of any two words. It doesn’t
stand for anything.
Q: Is
Windows CE a stripped-down version of Windows?
No,
the Windows CE operating system was built from the ground
up specifically for the embedded system and appliance
industry. It differs from Windows 98 or Windows 2000 in
three major ways:
- First,
it is processor-independent and works on 12 different
processor architectures. Windows 98 and Windows 2000
work on x86 processor architectures only.
- Second,
Windows CE is a real-time operating system with bounded
deterministic response times that time-critical applications
require. Windows 98 and Windows 2000 are not real-time.
- Third,
Windows CE 3.0 is componentized into over 200 modules
allowing OEM embedded system developers to just select
the operating system components they need for a particular
design and exclude those they don’t, thus reducing
memory footprint requirements. Windows 98 and Windows
2000 are not componentized.
For
a complete discussion of all of the new features of the
operating system, please see >>>>>>>>>>>
What’s
New in Windows CE 3.0<<<<<<<<<<<.
Q: How
can I learn more about Windows CE and its development
tools?
Check
out additional resources available on the Web site, particularly:
