Professional Windows® Embedded CE 6.0

Chapter 1. Windows Embedded CE

While the traditional Windows desktop operating system (OS) developed by Microsoft was designed to run on well-defined and standardized computing hardware built with the x86 processor, Windows Embedded CE was designed to support multiple families of processors.

This chapter provides an overview of CE and improvements for the latest Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 release. Multiple Windows Embedded products, including Windows Embedded CE, are being promoted and supported by the same business unit within Microsoft, the Windows Embedded Product group.

What Is Embedded?

Embedded is an industry buzz word that's been in use for many years. Although it's common for us to hear terms like embedded system, embedded software, embedded computer, embedded controller, and the like, most developers as well as business and teaching professionals have mixed views about the embedded market.

To fully understand the potential offered by the Windows Embedded product family, we need to have good understanding about what's considered an embedded device and embedded software.

Before getting into talking about Windows Embedded products, let's take a brief look at what embedded hardware and software are.

Embedded Devices

A computer is an electronic, digital device that can store and process information. In a similar fashion, an embedded device has a processor and memory and runs software.

While a computer is designed for general computing purposes, allowing the user to install different ...