On Tuesday, Nov 18, 2003, at 09:48 US/Pacific, Neil Cherry wrote:
> > for similar prices you can get something like a dragonball,
> > "internet appliance" x86 clone, or commodity PC that will run
> > several commercial operatings systems, plus several open source
> > operating systems?"
>
> An open OS? I haven't really had a chance to work with it so I guess
> I shouldn't really comment. But I do have the Comer Xinu book (sort of
> open?).
>
I mostly meant the assorted unix clones.

> I chose ECOS because it was flexible, open, allowed others to use Open
> Source tools (we needed free) and was RT and small.
Sounds like fine reasons to me.

> Though I love using Linux I'm not so sure it's the right OS for my
> embedded project. Windows was definitely out of the question.

Why?  For something like a "home automation controller", you don't
necessarily need something "tiny."  A brand new PC can be had for
about $300, and give you enough HW resources to run hugely inefficient
software :-)  true, windows is expensive just for the OS.  but you
probably already have it.  linux or freedos will work fine.  It's
REAL HARD to match the bang/buck of a commodity PC (and of course,
3-generation old PCs can be plucked from select trash cans...)
(available: 90Mhz Pentium I system, HDD, CD, 14inch SVGA monitor.
MSDOS6.22,
W3.1, W95 'update'. Works fine.  Free.  Buyer pays postage.  note that
it's probably not WORTH the postage...  Getting to the point where it's
not worth the space it's taking.  Sigh.)

BillW

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