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WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) davethewave Profile OK - I am still learning about all of this - so if this is a really stupid question I apologize. What about a WinCE or other OS developed for portable devices ? Since these are written for devices with limited resources they might suit the WP - pocket word, excel, etc - and a browser - But i am not sure about support for the devices - any thoughts (other than those saying that this is a stupid idea) ? 11-19-2000 08:10:46

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) jayfive Profile WinCE is made specifically for units that use RISC (or maybe it's MIPS) processor architecture. PC's generally use an x86 architecture, so WinCE or similar portable OS isn't an option. You're on the right train of thought though. I would have to say that QNX or BeOS would be the best choices for an OS that runs well with limited resources. jayfive 11-19-2000 11:16:05

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) davethewave Profile Hey - Thanx for the info...I knew there was a reason someone else hadn't mentioned it... 11-19-2000 11:23:24

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) Aviator Profile Actually Windows CE supports quit a few processors including the x86 family from Intel, AMD, Cyrix and STC Microelectronics. See the link below for a complete list-- http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/processors/all.asp The real problem is more likely to be driver support, so it would still be a challange to get it working on the webplayer. 11-20-2000 06:36:53

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) larwe Profile | Email The Webplayer was originally designed by Acer to run Windows CE. It is very similar to the eMachines MSN Companion device http://www.e4me.com (except that the MSN companion has only 32Mb RAM, 16Mb flash and no LCD - and it costs $349). Personal: www.zws.com & www.larwe.com Work: www.digi-frame.com 11-27-2000 14:12:42

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) jayfive Profile I would love to try Windows CE. I just have no clue as to where to find an x86 version (or any version for that matter). Any ideas? 11-27-2000 19:40:10

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) moose_hacker Profile | Email WinCE is only sold to OEMs. i.e. a Compaq or HP, who makes a PocketPC device. According to the supported hardware list, CE will support the webplayer just fine. 11-27-2000 20:43:21

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) jayfive Profile Looks like Windows CE isn't an option at all. Taken from a usenet post: "It exists, but the only version that's been released by Microsoft is a Windows NT emulator for testing WinCE programs. I don't think the x86 ROMS have been created yet. Also, you can't use a standard motherboard. You need something that will accept 8MB Bios (ROM) chips...standard motherboards only accept 512k chips. Windows CE is not a disk-based operating system by any stretch of the imagination, and cannot be simply 'downloaded'." http://x55.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=571825229&search=thread&CONTEXT=975390105.874315790&HIT_CONTEXT=975389904.873136165&HIT_NUM=92&hitnum=3 11-27-2000 22:45:09

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) Randy Profile Actually, Jayfive, I own a WinCE developer's package that runs (and compiles) on x86 machines. You also can purchase the product: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/default.asp 11-27-2000 22:54:45

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) jayfive Profile The developers package is an emulator that runs under Windows NT. The version that we need (and the one that I was referring to in my last post)is an x86 version of the actual OS. The OS itself is what runs on Pocket PC handhelds and certain business machines for example. After some research I see that it's like trying to install PalmOS on a PC. WindowsCE was not designed to be a primary OS for a device with hard storge. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, because I would love to be able to run WinCE on my webplayer. jayfive 11-28-2000 18:53:58

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) aetherion Profile I believe that if it is made available for individual licenses, BeIA would be an optimal OS for the Webplayer. It already runs on Geode devices and supports lots of multimedia/web capabilities. As soon as I get my 44 pin HD cable, I plan to run BeOS due to it's boot time of about 10 secs. BeIA, taking up only 8MB, would be great to load on the DOC. The only question is when it will come out and if an individual user can buy a copy... 11-28-2000 20:24:55

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) Haribante Profile | Email So I checked out http://www.boundless.com (the people we are getting the players in the co-op for)and noticed that they make very very similar devices to the webplayer for sale to corporations as thin clients. http://www.boundless.com/Thin_Client_Products/Capio_Family/index.asp these products run WinCE from a Disk On Chip, use the Geode processor, and have all the same features as our wonderful webplayer do. This makes me think that the system board is very likely a slightly less enabled version of their real products. (even the compactflash slot is there, just not soldered to the board) so perhaps we could find a customer of boundless who has purchased one or a number of these devices and "borrow" their DOC chip for a short time to get the winCE distribution from them. This way, we even have a Terminal Services client for those of us who want to use the Webplayer as a thin client for more powerful applications.. what do you all think of this? 12-15-2000 20:39:49

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) coredog64 Profile CE on x86 is doable. Find someone with an MSDN universal subscription, and they should have the CE Platform Builder trial edition. Or, you may still be able to order it online from Microsoft. This will let you create a image to run CE on an x86 machine. Of course, if there's anything in the device that doesn't have drivers in the Platform builder, you're hosed. 12-16-2000 16:22:23

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) pshlortz Profile | Email usb ethernet... i wish; good luck on that one! and can't we run remote termila services on the windows 98 doc? 12-16-2000 21:43:41

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) epad Profile WinCE is now offered as opensource by Microsoft. Has anyone downloaded and tried compiling for WP. 08-07-2001 16:14:16

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) BNOVE Profile I seen this thread hasnt been hit for a while. Well with WinCE 3.0 out, I thought I would share what I found on there site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/guide/features/whatsnew30.asp "Support for the DiskOnChip Millennium product from M-Systems, Inc. by means of the TrueFFS driver. DiskOnChip is a NAND-based linear flash memory device." Not sure if this will help get it on the Webplayer, but when I get mine next week I will have to give it a try. 08-31-2001 22:32:38

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) famewolf Profile The diskonchip support just means that wince can recognize it as a "drive"...the major problem is your not going to find drivers for the video and sound. This is also the main reason an NT version was never created or win 2000...I would think WIN CE would also limit you as to the amount of programs you could run with the webplayer...does it support USB? 08-31-2001 23:22:34

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) BNOVE Profile Here is what Microsoft has to say about USB: "Enhanced USB support: Universal Host Controller Interface (UHCI) driver. Sample Universal Serial Bus (USB) function controller driver, based on the Scanlogic SL11 chipset, for faster device synchronization and application debugging purposes. USB Human Interface Device (HID) driver with DirectInput® interface." Even looks like the OS wouldnt take up more than 20MB, not sure about drivers... 08-31-2001 23:58:14

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) LarryMorris Profile | Email Windows CE fully supports the NS Geode processor family. The recently released CE.Net includes a BSP for a Geode based reference design. CE.Net also includes much more source code than CE 3.0 CE.Net added support for RNDIS, meaning you can use a USB ethernet adapter. CE.Net also includes significantly improved support for PCI devices. Additionally 802.11 and 802.1x zero config are supported in CE for those of you interested in an 802.11 mini-PCI setup. Or try Bluetooth, again supported in CE.Net. CE does include full MSystems DOC support, and has for the last several versions. You can request an eval copy at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce.net/evaluation/trial/evalkit.asp (for the WebPlayer you want CE.Net, not the embedded NT offering) If you want to try out CE.net and get a feel for its capabilities, you can download a version that supports an x86 emulator from http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/default.asp?url=/downloads/sample.asp?url=/msdn-files/027/001/699/msdncompositedoc.xml . This version contains all the components of the full version, its limitations are that it is x86 only and supports only the emulator BSP. I've seen CE.Net on a variety of Webplayer type devices (Geode based low cost embedded PCs). Some of the features I've seen used in these configs include: RDP - Remote desktop, acess you PC from various locations in the home. Web browser - IE5.5 browser. Add the TV-lens feature to make it more useable on low res screens. Picture viewer - set it up as a continuous slide show. DAR - Digital Audio Receiver. CE.Net includes a Windows Media player. Web server - CE contains full gateway support as well as a web server. I've seen headless Geode devices being used as low cost personal web servers. The CE development team is active on the windowsce newsgroups. You might try posting questions there if you are interested in trying out CE on your WebPlayer. 03-07-2002 00:08:40

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) hwhack Profile Larry, Can you specify the newgroups completely? Thanks. 03-07-2002 18:50:49

RE:WinCE or similar ? (modified 0 times) JeffGlaum Profile | Email microsoft.public.windowsce.platbuilder microsoft.public.windowsce.targeted.device Jeff 03-24-2002 22:26:14

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