I do embedded systems at times and i would like to utilize the power of the XP core without the overhead of the GUI on the actually embedded system. I would like to turn off the GUI comletely. It would be nice because windows API is more programmer friendly than Linux. Plus the tools are more reliable.
Need for MINI OS
YellOwCN
Have a look at Windows Embedded. There are two "flavors" right now, XP Embedded and CE. XP Embedded is essentially a "modular" version of XP, which allows you to choose the system components you need for your installation. CE is an operating system designed from the ground up for embedded devices, but it has an API very similar to Win32.
The current versions of both of these OS's can also run managed code under the .NET Framework, further simplifying development.
There is a third flavor of embedded system under development, but it's still a ways off: the .NET MicroFramework. This version is aimed at very small systems, essentially ARM7 platforms with minimal memory and user interface.
Kashu
You will probably find the Windows CE API has most of the Windows API you need, you will find embedded XP easier then you might think.
Embedded XP is not 'XP Lite'- it is full XP with Active Directory, Security, Services (and the bad stuff like Virus too ;-0 ). The CE system has what you need for a embedded system, and if your system is battery powered or has a non-PC type of hardware configuration (e.g. no 'BIOS'), it is a better choice. The overall hardware + Software cost of a CE system should be more than one hundred dollars less than a embedded XP system.
The .NET Micro Framework is for tiny embedded devices that need to run on very inexpensive hardware. All in hardware+OS 'Bill of Materials' cost is below $50-$60 for most configurations I see. This product, while proven in the SPOT Watch for years, is in narrow-cast intro mode at the moment If you are an OEM please contact me, I can connect you to a developers kit (for VS2005), dev platforms, System Integrators and training
Lawrence Ricci