The dominant OS on these lightweights is Linux!

[Charles Steinkuehler]

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Arthur Pemberton wrote:
| On Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 12:27 AM, Oren Beck <orenbeck at gmail.com> wrote:
|>
http://www.liliputing.com/2008/04/over-past-six-months-or-so-asus-everex_24.html
|
| Not for long. I feel confident that Microsoft will do (quite
| literally) whatever it takes to stop this.

How...exactly?  Even if they give away their OS (which sort of defeats
the whole purpose), linux is far better suited to these minimal devices,
and comes with full source.

I work in the electronics and embedded space, and linux has been the
dominate OS for new designs for several years now.  The configurability,
full source, price, development tools, etc. have made this choice easy
for a lot of reasons.  Yeah, MS has their CE (Crippled Edition) that
runs on low-end gadgets, but you can still boot *REAL* linux off a
couple meg (even a floppy, if you still have one!), get mainstream
support for ARMs, H8's, etc., and even port to your own custom CPU
without too much hassle if you're so inclined.

The open-source aspect of linux is great for the embedded space, as
there are /always/ weird issues that crop up with new products that can
be next to impossible to fix w/o visibility into the OS source, which is
typically a VERY expensive option to closed-source OS alternatives (not
just MS, but things like VXWorks, QNX, and Nucleus).  Even /with/ the
source, you typically are not licensed to fix any bugs/issues that come
up, and are reliant on the (hopefully responsive) vendor to provide a
new version with whatever fixes you need.

Also, while linux isn't itself a real-time operating system, since it's
open-source, you can coerce it into one with your choice of several
kernel patches, run it as a task in a true RTOS, or otherwise mold it to
fit your needs.

MS may use their current desktop muscle to forge a position in the PDA
and hand-held market, but the 'invisible' stuff on the factory floor,
inside your smart-switch, NAS box, firewall/AP, combat 'bot, etc. is
converging on linux, with the UI driven stuff not far behind.

- --
Charles Steinkuehler
charles at steinkuehler.net
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