MikeDyble
asked on
Windows CE for embedded system
First of all I wasn't sure if I should ask this question here or in the PDA area... so bear with me.
I have developed a number of embedded systems using PC based industrial systems. These have used Win 3.11 and either VB or Delphi to write the program, the results have been good and on the whole the systems have been reliable.
The problem is that Win 3.11 is an old operating system, but it is reasonably compact, most of the systems have a 8mB flash or EPROM disk as the main storage. This means that a port to 32 bit VB/Delphi under Win95/98 is out of the question.
The question is would Windows CE forfill the task? what is required to run Win CE on a standard PC system (100Mhz 486, 8mB flash 8mB Ram, color VGA 640x480x256color)? What development software is available? How would existing applications port from VB/Delphi?
Most of the applications communicate with industrial control equipment using a serial link.
Because I have asked a number of related questions I have allocated 200 points, If you can answer part of it then fine, as before I close the question I may allocate points between more than one contributor.
What I really am looking for is what I need to do to change to Win CE, and if it will be worth while.
I have developed a number of embedded systems using PC based industrial systems. These have used Win 3.11 and either VB or Delphi to write the program, the results have been good and on the whole the systems have been reliable.
The problem is that Win 3.11 is an old operating system, but it is reasonably compact, most of the systems have a 8mB flash or EPROM disk as the main storage. This means that a port to 32 bit VB/Delphi under Win95/98 is out of the question.
The question is would Windows CE forfill the task? what is required to run Win CE on a standard PC system (100Mhz 486, 8mB flash 8mB Ram, color VGA 640x480x256color)? What development software is available? How would existing applications port from VB/Delphi?
Most of the applications communicate with industrial control equipment using a serial link.
Because I have asked a number of related questions I have allocated 200 points, If you can answer part of it then fine, as before I close the question I may allocate points between more than one contributor.
What I really am looking for is what I need to do to change to Win CE, and if it will be worth while.
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>I wondered if anyone has produced a
>Win CE operating system
WinCE is not open source. Only Microsoft can release WinCE operating systems. Besides, its only done with OEM contracts. Thus, if you want to have a version of WinCE for PCs (x86), then you must have an OEM contract with Microsoft, pay them a few hundred thousand dollars and then work *WITH* Microsoft in order to have the WinCE OS the way you want. BTW, if you do so, you are not allowed to distribute it in medias other than ROM chips.
From what you just said about your OS requirements, I think I got just the thing you're looking for, but it's not Windows compatible. The entire OS has a footprint of exactly 1.44Mb, including support for the Internet. Here's the URL to their site:
http://www.qnx.com/
Do not forget to download the Demodisk from QNX, which is the entire OS in a single 1.44 MB floppy.
Yours,
Alex
>Win CE operating system
WinCE is not open source. Only Microsoft can release WinCE operating systems. Besides, its only done with OEM contracts. Thus, if you want to have a version of WinCE for PCs (x86), then you must have an OEM contract with Microsoft, pay them a few hundred thousand dollars and then work *WITH* Microsoft in order to have the WinCE OS the way you want. BTW, if you do so, you are not allowed to distribute it in medias other than ROM chips.
From what you just said about your OS requirements, I think I got just the thing you're looking for, but it's not Windows compatible. The entire OS has a footprint of exactly 1.44Mb, including support for the Internet. Here's the URL to their site:
http://www.qnx.com/
Do not forget to download the Demodisk from QNX, which is the entire OS in a single 1.44 MB floppy.
Yours,
Alex
Mike, check this page:
http://www.qnx.com/inhand/toolkit.html
I'll the text there speak for itself!
Yours,
Alex
http://www.qnx.com/inhand/toolkit.html
I'll the text there speak for itself!
Yours,
Alex
ASKER
Thanks for the info - it's got me on the right track
ASKER