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delradie · 03-05-03, 09:28 AM

Okay, here goes. I don't work for Microsoft but I am a developer getting into the mobility field. Here's my understanding of the WinCe/PocketPC/HandheldPC situation.

Microsoft, rather than starting from scratch each time a new type of device needs an OS, have a piece of software called Platform Builder which allows them to create an operating system, such as PocketPC, from the full range of components defined in Windows CE (currenty at version 4.1, dubbed CE.Net).

From the base of WinCE individual vendors build their specific operating system, or platform as MS like to call it. Depending on what components from WinCE are used it is decided what the OS label is. The main ones at the moment are (by no mean a complete list):

PocketPC
PocketPC Phone Edition
Pocket PC for Smartphones
HandheldPC
CE for Automotive

In addition subsets get used for custom (ususally true embedded devices) and the label gets left as Windows CE

The main rule of thumb for most devices is: If it has a touchscreen as its main input device its PocketPC, if it has a built in keyboard its HandheldPC. If the system its running on is built into something else (e.g. incar GPS, settop box etc) it'll probablly just be labelled CE

This is probably clear as mud, as its taken me quite a while, lots of reading, and discussion with various people to figure this out. Hope it does help though

03-05-03, 09:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
delradie Aximsite Rookie DAP Freshman Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 65 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	CE from the coalface Okay, here goes. I don't work for Microsoft but I am a developer getting into the mobility field. Here's my understanding of the WinCe/PocketPC/HandheldPC situation. Microsoft, rather than starting from scratch each time a new type of device needs an OS, have a piece of software called Platform Builder which allows them to create an operating system, such as PocketPC, from the full range of components defined in Windows CE (currenty at version 4.1, dubbed CE.Net). From the base of WinCE individual vendors build their specific operating system, or platform as MS like to call it. Depending on what components from WinCE are used it is decided what the OS label is. The main ones at the moment are (by no mean a complete list): PocketPC PocketPC Phone Edition Pocket PC for Smartphones HandheldPC CE for Automotive In addition subsets get used for custom (ususally true embedded devices) and the label gets left as Windows CE The main rule of thumb for most devices is: If it has a touchscreen as its main input device its PocketPC, if it has a built in keyboard its HandheldPC. If the system its running on is built into something else (e.g. incar GPS, settop box etc) it'll probablly just be labelled CE This is probably clear as mud, as its taken me quite a while, lots of reading, and discussion with various people to figure this out. Hope it does help though __________________ Mark ----------------------------------------- By caffeine alone I set my mind in motion The buzz becomes a shaking The shakes become a warning By caffeine alone I set my mind in motion Last edited by delradie; 03-05-03 at 09:37 AM.