We talk a lot about the number of devices that are being built around relatively high-end embedded operating systems, but until you actually put together the list it's hard to really appreciate it. The people at www.windowsfordevices.com have been doing a series of Windows versus Linux smackdowns that provide such a list and even break it down in scoreboard form. Linux squeaked out a win in this third-round edition, by the way.

Granted, there are vested interests involved in the us versus them format and there is certainly a universe of embedded systems outside of the devices in these lists, but it is truly surprising to see just how many devices are on these lists. The cost of entry to create devices like this has come down significantly over the years, and interest in doing so has gone up commensurately.

Larry Mittag