Ready to Run Windows^® CE App.s on Advantech's Platform

Windows^® CE is a powerful, yet compact operating system. That's one of the reasons why it has become such a hot trend in embedded system integration. Because of the Microsoft Windows name, most people expect Windows^® CE to be as easy to use and flexible as Windows 95/98 or NT, but this is in fact far from the case. Instead of being able to only focus on programming their applications, users must first address several issues.

Issues in Working with Windows^® CE

One difficulty in dealing with Windows^® CE is that it is very hardware dependent. There may often be times when no driver is available for the desired device. Secondly, lack of both familiarity and support for Windows^® CE development tools may cause difficulties. One must also spend time looking for a suitable hardware platform on which to run Windows^® CE. Yet another problem may be that system integrators will be too limited by time and know-how to port Windows^® CE. Lastly, another potential issue relates with the need to apply to Microsoft for a license to use and sell Windows^® CE within your application.

Advantech's Comprehensive Solution

Advantech has spent a lot of time and research trying to alleviate some of these problems for the customer. To begin with, Advantech offers a full range of compact, yet industrial-strength embedded PC boards and cards (with CPUs ranging from 386-based to Pentium II), which are loaded with such on-board features as Ethernet, VGA/LCD, Audio, SSD sockets, watchdog timers, PC/104 expansion slots, etc. Many of these can also support an on-board SSD which can come pre-loaded with Windows^® CE ver.2.1. This specially configured version of Windows^® CE supports all of the on-board functions and devices of whichever board or card it's sold with. This completely eliminates the need for the systems integrator to worry about hardware porting or configuration, thus allowing him to concentrate his time and resources on actual application programming. Lastly, Windows^® CE solutions bought from Advantech will all have a Microsoft license sticker on each SSD, thereby negating the need to apply to Microsoft oneself for such a license.

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