> For real time mission critical applications surely something such as QNX
> (http://www.qnx.com/) or WindRiver (http://www.wrs.com/index.html) is a
more
> suitable choice than a stripped down version of Windows?
I guess in some trully critical life-and-death environments this kind of
stuff is a much better option, if not the only one.
For slightly less critical environments latest versions of Windows (NT and
2000) are quite suitable, especially when only OS kernel is used (no shell).
It then all comes down to the quality of application. Well written
application may work under Windows NT or 2000 for months with no rebooting.
To be totally secure one may wish to schedule regular reboots once a month,
and there it is - an unbreakable system. Couple more years of Windows
evolution and even this will not be needed.
Using standard platform is a great thing for many customers. Many of them
have learned that going with proprietory stuff (even an excellent one) often
brings more troubles than goodies.
For instance retailers want to be able at any time to do either of these:
A) switch from one hardware vendor to another and stay with the same
software
B) swith to another software vendor and stay with the same hardware
C) have a good selection of both
D) Have it all reasonably priced (eg. they want toyotas and they do not want
jaguars)
The only answer these days is Windows. And it will be like that for a long
time simply because :
a) Windows is getting better
b) there is nothing around being so much better than Windows to convince
people to switch. The only driving force is hate towards MS and competition
to MS.
I'd be more than happy to use only Windows for as long as possible.
I am only annoyed that the greatest tool for programming Windows is
constantly in trouble for no other reason but people's stupidity.
Alex
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