> while Windoze CE is a watered down version of a patchwork quilt of an
operating system.
> bryon
This is simply not true.
Windows CE was written totally from scratch and is a pure operating
system in its own right. Everything from the scheduler, interrupt
service routines, message support, etc. are all implemented in CE and
they are all fresh 32 bit code (although some architectural concepts are
borrowed from NT). It was by accident that a developer hacked together
an "explorer" like interface for the first handhelds which Gates liked
enough to begin use for the HH UI (check out Inside Windows CE for more
on this).
Something else worth mentioning is that Windows CE is extensible in the
same ways that the Palm OS is with respect to add-on hardware. In fact,
Windows CE is _more_ extensible than the Palm OS in many other ways.
Windows CE was componentized by design from the get go because it is
targeted to a broader market base than just handheld systems (part of
its problem actually in the RTOS market) What does this mean? This
means that if a hardware vendor wants a UI for their device, they
include the UI component. If the need support for a window manager,
then they include that component. You get the idea. So if you're a
relatively dumb device like a cellular telephone and you don't need UI,
then maybe you only take the kernel and communication components of CE.
If you don't like the way the OS handles communicating with your
hardware, or have special hardware needs, you can bundle your own OEM
Adaptation Layer (OAL) which does things your way.
I recommend reading Inside Windows CE or Windows CE for Dummies for the
truth on the CE operating system. They provide great insight into CE
and can be found at the following URLs (watch for URL breaks):
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572318546/qid=924190806/sr=1-2/0
02-3950204-2808406
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764503227/qid=924190806/sr=1-7/0
02-3950204-2808406
What do people think of this off-the-cuff statement?
The Palm OS is an operating environment that sits on top of an operating
system much in the same way that Windows 3.1 was as it sat on top of
DOS. The distinction is important for the truly anal retentive. The
Palm OS itself defers basic operating system services to the Kadak RTOS
which it runs on top of much in the same way that Windows 3.1 deferred
basic services to DOS.
Let me know at mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED].
Cheers,
Mike
