Windows CE offers exciting Mobile Computing Possibities
Windows CE Operating System
Windows CE is a 32-bit Windows compatible operating system designed to fill the need for a
small, scalable OS (operating system) that can work in a wide range of products, including
mobile computers, terminals, industrial controllers, medical devices, testing instrumentation, and
many others. Windows CE is a 32-bit, preemptive, multitasking, multithreaded operating
systems specifically designed to support embedded systems.
Windows CE can be customized by selecting from a set of available software modules. In
addition, some of the modules can be further customized by selecting from a set of available
components for that module. Componentization of the Windows CE provides the ability to
design embedded system platforms using the minimum set of software modules and components
needed to support the platform’s systems requirements, which minimizes the memory footprint
and maximizes performance of the OS. For example, using componentization, it is possible to
build a Windows CE embedded operating system that contains the kernel and selected set of
communication modules but does not provide a graphical user interface.
All of the components of Windows CE can execute in place in ROM, reducing the amount of
RAM required. There is no requirement for additional resident or removable storage, although
both are supported. The memory needed by a Windows CE based system is totally dependent on
which components are required by the system. For example, a low-end system with just the
kernel, the communications stacks, and a single non-display application would require less than
500KB of ROM, depending on the application’s need. The Windows CE components in the
handheld PC, a full-fledged Windows CE based device using all of the components of the
architecture, take up about 2MB of ROM.
With the latest release of Windows CE 2.1 for the Handheld Professional, Microsoft has
continued to add basic database, registry, fonts and device driver functionality. Support for
additional processors and added wireless capabilities have been included. In addition to the
current 640X240 color and gray-scale display Windows CE 2.1 now support 640X480 and
800X600 displays. These new capabilities are producing a new and larger set of mobile products
providing the consumer more choices to meet their business needs.
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