Windows XP Embedded with SP1 Released

At the Windows Embedded Developers Conference in Las Vegas Tuesday, Microsoft announced the release of Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 1, the componentized version of Microsoft's flagship operating system designed for embedded devices. The update includes all security and bug fixes from Windows XP SP1, along with a number of new embedded-specific features.

Most notable is a new Remote Boot feature that enables a server to boot remotely using an image downloaded from a server, without requiring local storage. Windows XP Embedded with SP1 includes support for 20 languages via language packs, in addition to IPv6 and USB 2.0. The full .NET Framework is also supported in the update, but not the smaller .NET Compact Framework.

Windows XP Embedded was initially released last November and "allows for a range of footprints from 4.8 MB for a minimum configuration, increasing to 14 MB for a basic Win32 system, to 25 MB for a basic Win32 system with security infrastructure, and only 70 MB for the full Win32 API set with the user interface, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, Windows Media Player 8.0, Terminal Server client, USB support and SNMP support," according to Microsoft.

Microsoft will offer the Platform Builder and Target Designer Windows Embedded tool suites at a discounted price to promote Tuesday's release. Developers can purchase each set for $995 for Windows XP Embedded and Windows CE .NET until March 31, 2003. Trial kits of Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 1 are available via Microsoft's Windows Embedded Web site.