Windows XP Embedded Ships Early

Microsoft releases Windows XP Embedded for nearly two months ahead of schedule on Wednesday at the Windows Embedded Developers Conference.

Commercial uses for the componentized version of the client operating systems, including thin clients, retail point-of-sale equipment, self-service kiosks and industrial automation.

"We are committed to providing the latest Windows technology to our embedded customers within 90 days of general availability of Windows XP, we are very pleased to be able to launch the Windows XP Embedded advance disclosure commitments within 35 days, "the human Jim Allchin, group vice president of Microsofts platform division, said in a statement.

Embedded operating system to replace Windows NT 4.0 embedded systems, the previous version is a backward general availability of Windows NT 4.0 is a long period of time.

Microsofts decision to skip the development of an embedded version of Windows 2000, so as to provide the Windows XP Embedded operating system, about the same time as the release. Akers Kim Jong-il, a director of Microsofts embedded platform and equipment, the group said Microsoft is committed to further reduce the time gap between the general operating system and embedded versions of the press release in the future.

Al Gillen, an operating environment, IDC analysts said, Microsoft has done the smart thing, and XP Embedded version.

"They have changed the whole way, they have set up the operating system, which was once their operating system will be established, and then they will try to go back to its decomposition so that configuration, it is a very complex and difficult to calculate [ dependencies of the different components], in fact they have an understanding of the dependencies of a core part of the process, "Gillen said.

The configuration of Windows XP version, it can be from 4.8 MB to 70 MB of depending, of which 10,000 components a developer of embedded devices choice is the most important improvements in Windows NT 4.0 Embedded According to Gillen.

Operating system probably will not be competition, the traditional embedded operating system, because its area is relatively large, Gillen said. However, Windows XP, will be toe to toe with Linux in many embedded system design development programme, Gillen said. XP Embedded Linux primary advantage is its ability to run Win32 applications, he said.

Microsoft last Wednesday announced a free evaluation version of the time-bomb after 120 days, and for a three-month promotional price of 995 yuan.