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Windows CE versus Windows NT Embedded
By Chris De Herrera,
Copyright 1999
Version 1.00 Revised 7/30/99
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Introduction
Microsoft is now offering two different embedded operating systems - Windows CE and Windows NT Embedded. The comparison below describes the major differences between the two platforms.
Comparison
| Feature | Windows CE | Windows NT Embedded |
| Operating System Version | 3.0 | 4.0 service pack 5 |
| Supported CPUs | x86, Mips, SH3, SH4, StrongARM, ARM, Power PC - Details | x86 (Pentium, AMD K5/6, Cyrix 5x86/6x86) |
| CPU Speed | Runs on as little as 80 mhz, can operate at 500+ mhz | Recommended 300 mhz, can operate at 500+ mhz |
| Multiprocessor | None - uniprocessor | Up to 32, server edition, 4 workstation edition |
| Multitasking | Preemptive - limited to 32 applications, supports threads | Preemptive, supports threads |
| Memory - minimum | 1 MB execution, no storage required | 12 MB execution, 8 MB storage w/o networking, 16 Mb execution, 16 MB storage w/networking |
| Paging | Dynamic paging based on available internal ram | Paging file to secondary storage (fixed or dynamic) or disable paging |
| Utilities | Command Shell, Pocket Internet Explorer (equivalent to Internet Explorer 4.0), Pocket Inbox, Help Engine - Client Functionality, Windows Terminal Server Client | Command shell, text editing, Windows Explorer, Microsoft Management Console, network configuration utilities, Windows help engine, task scheduling, and others - Server or Workstation functionality |
| General Features | Headless
support Diskless support - Boot from flash media, or CD Rom (Sega Dreamcast boots from CD) |
Headless
support Diskless support - Boot from flash media or CD Rom |
| Security | None | NTFS, application level |
| Display | Optimized for smaller displays, supports up to 800 x 600 | 640 x 480 and larger standard displays |
| Communications Protocols | TCP/IP, PPP, SLIP, PAP, CHAP, HTTP, IrDA | TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, AppleTalk, Netbeui, PPP, SLIP, CSLIP, PAP, CHAP, PPTP, HTTP, RPC, SNMP |
| Data Storage | ATA Flash, Linear Flash, PC Card hard disk, CompactFlash hard disk, IDE hard disk - FAT format - no capacity limit, CD Rom | ATA Flash, M-Systems Disk on a Chip- Max capacity is 144 MB flash, Bootable CD Rom |
| Data Storage Formats | FAT, FAT32 | FAT, NTFS, compression |
| Power/CPU Management | Power managent for extended battery life, instant on capable | Unknown |
| API | Subset of Win32 | Full Win32 |
| Development Tools | Platform Builder ($999, not disclosed per license pricing) Requires Visual C++ | Target Designer ($395). Target Designer + RTX ($1,950 plus $395 per license) |
Conclusion
There are many pros and cons to each operating system so each developer should closely consider what features are important for their specific project. For smaller applications, Windows CE will be the preferred operating system. In some specialized applications like computer telephony, Windows NT Embedded will be preferred. Each project requires analysis to decide which operating system is best.
Whitepapers
Windows
NT Embedded Overview
Windows
NT Embedded Datasheet
Windows
NT Embedded Whitepaper
VenturCom
Windows NT Embedded versus Windows CE Whitepaper
VenturCom
RTX Whitepaper
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