Release of XPe Shows Value of OS Components

The release of Windows XP Embedded (XPe), which consists of a set of developer tools and a granular database of Windows XP Professional operating system (OS) components, makes it possible to generate custom embedded systems based on Microsoft’s desktop OS. This new version of Windows Embedded also provides a glimpse into how Microsoft might use the component database in future versions of its Windows OS.

What Is Windows XPe?

XPe is the successor to Windows NT Embedded 4.0; there is no Windows Embedded version based on Windows 2000. The Windows Embedded Studio tools that come bundled with XPe allow developers to create embedded systems based on the binary files of Windows XP Professional. Microsoft defines an embedded system as any computer system or computing device that performs a dedicated function or is designed for use with a specific embedded software application. Bally Gaming, Compaq, NCR, ViewSonic, Wincor-Nixdorf, and Wyse, among others, are already developing embedded devices, such as ATMs, point-of-sale retail devices, slot machines, and Windows terminals, based on XPe. A version for embedded server applications will be available after Microsoft releases Windows .NET Server in 2002. (For details on Microsoft’s embedded OS strategy and comparisons between XPe and Windows CE, see “.NET Puts Focus on Embedded Strategy” on page 6 of the July 2001 Update.)