| Our actions with Windows®CE |
(March.2000) |
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As you may be aware, Digital concluded the SI agreement* with Microsoft. I soon went to Redmond, Washington, U.S.A. and met with three persons of Microsoft. These persons coordinate strategies of Windows DNA, which takes charge of the manufacturing industry in planning strategic policies within Microsoft. Included among them are the account director, program manager, and SI secretariat director for Windows®CE. Some of the information I obtained from the meeting with them is given below.
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| The following four advantages explain the reason why Windows®CE was to be adopted: |
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Applications can be developed in the WindowsNT® environment. An increasing number of software engineers have become familiar with the development of programs in that environment. |
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| (2) |
Programs can be added to those created using package software, in a easy-to-use environment. However, these additions must conform to the development environment on Windows®CE. |
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| (3) |
Data in the Windows form can be shared in other environments of Windows families. |
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| (4) |
Windows®CE is highly expected for uses in the Web on the Internet/intranet and on-site information terminals that are used to access the Web from an on-site server. V2.12 includes the features of IE: Internet Explorer. |
The differences between Windows®CE V2.11/V2.12 and V3.0 are that their interrupt environments are different from each other and that the latter has real-time performance, while the former does not. Other features are basically the same. The operating speed of V2.11/V2.12 greatly varies depending on the headless condition of the BIOS. The optimal environment can be obtained by adjusting the BIOS, drivers, and applications for the basic kernel of 256K bytes so that the operating environment becomes suitable for each market.
In order to optimize the software development environment, Visual C, Visual Basic, and Visual JAVA are offered in Windows®CE versions. They are different from those in Windows®95/Windows®98/WindowsNT® versions.
This shows part of the fact that this operating system is different from Windows®95/Windows®98/WindowsNT®.
However, many customers misunderstand that the applications running on Windows®95/Windows®98/WindowsNT® can be used on Windows®CE as they are. Some users feel uneasy in adopting a Windows-based operating system for a control purpose. These matters were discussed at the above meeting.
Since the Windows®CE environment for control applications are different from that for HMI applications, further studies seem to be necessary on what hardware is to be used. If Windows®CE is used for the PLC unit, the BIOS size can be reduced by adjusting Windows®CE so as to meet the OS specification of the PLC. In addition, the compact PCI bus is expected to be used for the PLC.
As future actions in the Japanese market, we agreed at the meeting that we will have to appeal the fact that Windows®CE is hardware-dependent and different from Windows®95/Windows®98/WindowsNT® that is not dependent on hardware.
Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft, has recently published his book titled "Bill Gates Business @ the Speed of Thought." I do recommend that you read this book. At the meeting, there was a comment saying that the book concisely presents the fundamental concept that established the digital nervous system, Windows DNA. |
Written by Masashi Murakami, Sub-chief ofProduct Planning Department
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| Part of the Microsoft museum |
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| Display corner for a sample of Windows CE |
Sample of Windows CE installed on a car product |
Corner for the history of Microsoft Corporation |
* We signed the system integrator agreement with Microsoft Corporation., U.S.A. concerning Windows CE in order to offer solutions covering the entire Windows environment for panel computers in the factory automation field.
For further information on Windows CE, please access the homepage of Microsoft Corporation at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/default.asp. |
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