News

Microsoft Sets Date for XP Embedded Launch

• By Scott Bekker
• 09/27/2001

The release date coincides with a long-standing promise from Microsoft to launch an embedded version of Windows XP within 90 days of the release of the general-purpose operating system. The general release date for Windows XP is Oct. 25.

The embedded version consists of more than 10,000 components of the operating system that developers and device makers can use to build reliable clients.

Windows XP Embedded is the successor to Windows NT 4.0 Embedded, which came out long after the Windows NT 4.0 general release.

Microsoft scrapped a plan to market an embedded version of Windows 2000, which would have lagged behind the general release version of that operating system by at least 18 months. Redmond opted instead to time its next embedded release to coincide more closely with a general operating system release -- in this case Windows XP.

Microsoft also plans to ship an embedded server operating system code-named "Whistler Embedded Server" later. That OS will based on Windows .NET Server, which is due sometime in 2002.

Microsoft positions Windows XP Embedded as the version of the client operating system for building "full featured" client devices. "Talisker," the next version of Windows CE, is aimed more at devices that require less client-side power.

Windows XP Embedded entered Beta 2 testing earlier this month. A Beta 1 version has been around since December.

Microsoft will launch Windows XP Embedded at the Windows Embedded Developers Conference in Las Vegas.