SBC for running XP or XPE? (other than EPIA)

On Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:57:40 +0200, David Brown
<david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> wrote:

>The Real Andy wrote:
>> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:01:18 -0400, CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> The Real Andy wrote:
>>>> CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>> ElderUberGeek wrote:
>>>>>> I am designing a system that will initially run on WinXP using a
>>>>>> regular PC, but when stable I plan to scale it down to a SBC and
>>>>>> run it on XP Embedded.
>>>>> Be aware that XP will not be available next year, and of some of
>>>> Citation please.
>>> Just ask your Microsoft rep.  They have so announced.
>> 
>> I have never seen that announcement, where would i find it? I am a
>> gold certified partner yet I have never heard such.
>
>http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/default.mspx
>
>So apparently XP *will* be available next year - until 31st January. 
>"System builders" can get it for another year after that (although I 
>don't know the differences between "System builder license" and "Direct 
>OEM license"), and XP Embedded may last longer.  But MS's plans for XP 
>in general seem fairly clear to me - although maybe as a certified 
>partner, you have access to more accurate information than me.
 
Obviously it is MS plan to phase out XP. BUT, if you think its not
going to exist in a year, you are wrong. MS will continue to support
XP for quite some time and you will be able to buy a vista licence and
downgrade it to XP. After 10 years from the last SP release it will no
longer be supported. In fact, if you buy a vista licence (home
excluded) the you can even downgrade to NT4, or if you are real
desperate you can even downgrade to 95.

The Real Andy wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:57:40 +0200, David Brown
> <david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> wrote:
> 
>> The Real Andy wrote:
>>> On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:01:18 -0400, CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yahoo.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The Real Andy wrote:
>>>>> CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>> ElderUberGeek wrote:
>>>>>>> I am designing a system that will initially run on WinXP using a
>>>>>>> regular PC, but when stable I plan to scale it down to a SBC and
>>>>>>> run it on XP Embedded.
>>>>>> Be aware that XP will not be available next year, and of some of
>>>>> Citation please.
>>>> Just ask your Microsoft rep.  They have so announced.
>>> I have never seen that announcement, where would i find it? I am a
>>> gold certified partner yet I have never heard such.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/default.mspx
>>
>> So apparently XP *will* be available next year - until 31st January. 
>> "System builders" can get it for another year after that (although I 
>> don't know the differences between "System builder license" and "Direct 
>> OEM license"), and XP Embedded may last longer.  But MS's plans for XP 
>> in general seem fairly clear to me - although maybe as a certified 
>> partner, you have access to more accurate information than me.
>  
> Obviously it is MS plan to phase out XP. BUT, if you think its not
> going to exist in a year, you are wrong. MS will continue to support
> XP for quite some time and you will be able to buy a vista licence and
> downgrade it to XP. After 10 years from the last SP release it will no
> longer be supported. In fact, if you buy a vista licence (home
> excluded) the you can even downgrade to NT4, or if you are real
> desperate you can even downgrade to 95.

I was not expressing any opinion as to what I think MS will do - I 
merely summarised the webpage from Microsoft.  However, I think your 
interpretation of the lifetimes differs somewhat from MS webpages, and 
the ten year figures apply only to "extended support".  Also, I don't 
see any clear indication of what "support" means.  In particular, does 
it mean that basic drivers will be available for newer systems?  And for 
someone looking to use an OS in an embedded system, it is important to 
know that they will be able to buy and use the required installation 
files - being allowed to downgrade the license is not enough.  Of course 
XP will still exist for many years to come - but will a manufacturer be 
able to rely on being able to produce new systems using it for many 
years to come?  As I said earlier, it may be more appropriate to use XP 
embedded, as I presume it has a longer lifetime.

Of course, if you instead choose Linux, you will have no issues with 
lifetime availability (although support could be another matter). 
Alternatively, an OS designed for embedded use (say, QNX) will be 
available for much longer - a general purpose commercial OS is only 
going to be available (for all practical purposes) as long as there is 
demand, and as long as the supplier is interested in selling it.