(sometimes abbreviated '''WinCE''') is a variation of
Microsoft 's
Windows Operating System for minimalistic computers and
Embedded System s. Windows CE is a distinctly different
Kernel , rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows. It is supported on
Intel X86 and compatibles,
MIPS ,
ARM , and
Hitachi SuperH processors.
Windows CE is optimized for devices that have minimal storage—a Windows CE kernel may run in under a megabyte of
Memory . Devices are often configured without
Disk Storage , and may be configured as a “closed” system that does not allow for end user extension (for instance, it can be burned into
ROM ). Windows CE conforms to the definition of a
Real-time Operating System , with a deterministic interrupt latency. It supports 256 priority levels and uses
Priority Inheritance for dealing with
Priority Inversion . The fundamental unit of execution is the
Thread . This helps to simplify the interface and improve execution time.
