XP Embedded Components - Page 2

tipastar · 01-06-2006, 11:49 PM

It's been almost exactly 1 year since the last post in this thread. I've searched alot in these forums for all the XPe folks and right now goosey2099 is the only person I found with a functional image. Has there been any other folks successfull with this?

I know purchasing the dev software and runtime licenses has been a major setback for the true hobbyist in here. As for me...I really want to continue developing my XPe image. So let me ask you this...

If dev tools is roughly $1000 and run time licenses are about $100 bucks each and they sell primarily to OEM mfg's...could the following scenario take place.

I would like to "hire" 20 people consultants to work for my "company". I would ask these 20 people if they'd like to invest $150 in said "company" to further our growth. I would then purchase for the company the development kit so we could all develop with it and we would each have a runtime license for ongoing testing, deployment, etc.

Your investment for XPe then is only $150. You get the development tools and a runtime license. The only answer I have not found is wether or not the dev tools are a "site license" or "single seat license". I can't imagine it being single seat if an OEM has a large development staff.

So watcha think...anyone interested in me moving forward? And, I'm sorry for the long post. I've been around for a long time and I seldom post so I have to make it last.

SnyperBob · 01-07-2006, 03:33 AM

I've built many fuinctional images in the past. The images themselves were functional, just never tracked down all the correct stuff to get front ends here to work in XPe.

SFiorito always has some excellent posts in regards to XPe. I just built a new house and don't have consistent internet, so I'll have more free time to play with XPe.

If you really are serious about purchasing the dev tool tipastar, let me know. Definately let me know when you find out more info in regards to the licensing. We live fairly close together and could definately make something happen.

tipastar · 01-07-2006, 10:40 AM

Quote:

just never tracked down all the correct stuff to get front ends here to work in XPe.

Unfortunately, I don't see any advantage of running any of the front ends here on a XPe build. There's just way too many dependencies and by the time you build all the components to support them, your image will look like a cobweb if not an elephant running through a garden hose.

You have to make your own shell and that's where I wish there was more interest. You'd want to then build your components off exisiting Windows architecture (Windows media player, etc.) to stream line and speed up "bring to market". I have the sdk's for WMPlayer and that's where I'm currently focused. My next components will be based on Microsoft's Mappoint and sdk's (GPS).

Now for the sad news...the dev kit is single seat licensing so scratch my idea. It really ticks me off. However, because this project means more to me than just having "a computer in my car", I'll go ahead and drop the grand for the dev kit. Just like any hobby, you're gonna spend the money. If you're one of those people here that have a status meter in their signature on the progress of their carputer, then this isn't the way to go. I myself will always be bouncing between 50% and 100% because I'll want new stuff all the time.

goosey2099 · 01-07-2006, 01:21 PM

The thing with XPe is that you can make RR/CF run as the only shell another words no explorer shell which is great for end user pc's because it will be able to look like a totally custom unit.

SFiorito · 01-07-2006, 05:05 PM

you don't need to be a "real" company...you can buy the dev tool and runtime licenses as an individual. however, I have to say that if you're willing to spend all that money and time on XPe, why not consider the latest WindowsCE? It costs less and you can take advantage of apps like TomTom Navigator? Just a thought. Good luck!

tipastar · 01-07-2006, 07:33 PM

The "real company" idea was to purchase a site license and therefore the more mp3car members that jump on board could purchase the dev kit and a runtime license at a minimum investment of $100+.

Windows CE is not bad and all but I have more experience with X86 architecture than ce. Plus, I think XPe will allow me more scalability as hardware changes. The nano boards are looking promising as well.

nate@s-curves · 01-10-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by goosey2099

Well the licensing issue i have no problem with (i allready took care of that) but i would still like some feedback from people who have XPe and what kind of components they include into their custom image. Thanx

how did you 'take care' of that I have the developement tools but need to know how to license the runtime image, any help would be great

SFiorito · 01-10-2006, 04:51 PM

just google for any company selling runtime licenses. they'll sell to individuals. at least i found a few (over a year ago) that were willing to sell to me, but then I realized it wasn't worth it.

Andy UK · 02-03-2006, 06:00 AM

Goosey,
Your car pc looks very nice. I have just started working on my xpe system. So far I have only managed to get a test image working on my desktop with MS virtual PC. I'm not a professional software person so progress is a little slow but I really like the idea of xpe. I tried nlite with limited success. I found that I had no plug in and play usb. How did you find out what your applications needed to run - trial and error?

jcdillin · 02-03-2006, 06:21 AM

Thats pretty much how I did it, just kept adding to the image untill it worked like I wanted.

goosey2099 · 02-03-2006, 10:28 AM

Yep Yep Yep, Trial and Error. It took allmost 2 weeks to get a perfect image working, and then I get a phidgets controller and realize that i don't had HID support so i started working with nlite.

m-ruiter · 02-03-2006, 02:10 PM

Are you guys willing to share you used build component lists.
Then other people will maybe start with XPe also.
The most essential components are always the ones you miss when you start building with XPe as a noob.

Andy-M · 02-17-2006, 05:03 AM

Please can send me anyone a working slx File fpr Windows Embedded? My first try's doesn't boot. Thx a lot

Andy UK · 02-17-2006, 10:46 AM

I will let you have mine as soon as I get it working. Need plenty of time though which is something that I haven't got a great deal of at the moment.

tipastar · 02-17-2006, 07:54 PM

I'm going to create a XPe repository (not to mistake this for an XPe dev repository) on my web server. I'll host the slx files and help people with driver component building. On the hardware side I've built the components for the EPIA M10K motherboard and the Xenarc TSK touchscreens.

If you've been playing with XPe then you know you have to dedicate time...compile design re-compile, etc. So stay tuned while I bring my server back on line.

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Where does all the time go?