Datasheet

Chapter 1: Windows Embedded CE
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I provide a brief overview of the other Windows Embedded products below to help you better
understand the differences between them.
Windows XP Embedded
Windows XP Embedded (XPe) is a componentized version of the Professional edition of Windows XP,
with some added features designed specifically to support the embedded device market. Microsoft
announced a new name for this product, Windows Embedded Standard, on April 15, 2008.
Using a development tool called Target Designer and a properly configured design template, OS, device
drivers, and application components, the developer can build a componentized XPe image with a
significantly smaller footprint than the Professional edition of Windows XP.
The XPe image can be configured to boot from the network, removable USB storage, or CD - ROM. This
OS includes the Write Filters component. When implemented in XPe, the Write Filters feature can
configure the storage partition as Read Only to support devices subject to frequent unexpected loss of
power. Without the Write Filters, Windows XP system shutoff due to unexpected loss of power might
corrupt the file system and prevent it from functioning normally.
Since XPe is binary - compatible with the Professional edition of Windows XP, applications written for
Windows XP can work with XPe with the proper components configured for the OS.
Windows Embedded Point of Service
The Windows Embedded Point of Service (WEPOS) is designed for point - of - service devices in the retail
and hospitality markets that need to connect to a variety of peripherals, such as the following:
ATMs for banking transactions
Full - featured point - of - sale and point - of - service terminals
Kiosks
WEPOS can be installed from a CD and does not require a development tool to generate the OS runtime
image as XPe does. WEPOS is binary - compatible with the Professional edition of Windows XP.
Windows Embedded CE 6.0
CE is not binary - compatible with any version of the desktop Windows OS. Other than the common
Windows term in the product name, Windows Embedded CE is not a scaled - down version of the desktop
Windows OS and does not share the common desktop OS kernel.
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