View source for Windows CE 5.0

{{Short description|Embedded operating system by Microsoft released in 2004}}
{{Citation style|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox OS version
|                   name = Windows CE 5.0
|                   logo = Windows logo - 2002.svg
|              logo_size = 64px
|             screenshot = Wince50.PNG
|              developer = [[Microsoft]]
|             version of = Windows CE
|           source_model = {{ubl
  | [[Proprietary software|Closed-source]]
  | [[Source-available software|Source-available]] (through [[Shared Source Initiative]])
}}
|          working_state = Discontinued
|     first_release_date = July 9, 2004
|      first_release_url =
|        release_version = CE 5.2.19202
|           release_date =
|            release_url =
|            kernel_type = [[Hybrid kernel]]
|                license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[commercial software]]|date=July 2011
|            preceded_by = [[Windows CE 4.2]]
|           succeeded_by = [[Windows Embedded CE 6.0]]
|           support_status = {{Plainlist|
*Mainstream support ended on October 13, 2009.<ref name="lifecycle">{{cite web|title=Microsoft Support Lifecycle|url=http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3100|work=Microsoft Support|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=February 6, 2015}}</ref>
*Extended support ended on October 14, 2014.<ref name="lifecycle"/>
 }}
|website=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms905511.aspx}}
[[File:Windows CE 5.0 WordPad in Emulator.png|thumb|Windows CE 5.0 includes a stripped-down version of [[WordPad]].]]

'''Windows CE 5.0''' (codenamed "Macallan")<ref>{{cite web
  | last = Tilley
  | first = Chris
  | title = The History of Windows CE
  | publisher = [[HPC:Factor]]
  | date = 2001-02-18
  | url = http://www.hpcfactor.com/qlink/?linkID=20
  | access-date = 2009-07-28 }}</ref> is a successor to [[Windows CE]] 4.2, the third release in the Windows CE [[Microsoft .NET|.NET]] family. It was first released on July 9, 2004. Like its predecessors, Windows CE 5.0 is marketed towards the embedded device market and independent device vendors. Windows CE 5.0 is billed as a low-cost, compact, fast-to-market, [[real-time operating system]] available for [[x86 architecture|x86]], [[ARM architecture|ARM]], [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]], and [[SuperH]] [[microprocessor]]-based systems.

Windows CE 5.0 builds on previous Windows CE releases in its adoption of [[shared source]]. Since 2001, Microsoft has been steadily expanding the available Windows CE source tree with embedded system developers. Windows CE 5.0 is the most open Microsoft operating system to date, though not all of the system is available under shared source agreements. Developers have the freedom to modify down to the kernel level, without the need to share their changes with Microsoft or competitors.

Windows CE 5.x is the base OS for Windows Mobile 6.0, 6.1 and 6.5. On the x86 platform, Windows CE 5.0 competes against Microsoft's other embedded operating systems, [[Windows XP Embedded]] and its predecessor [[Windows NT Embedded]].

Platform Builder IDE for Windows CE 5.0 is the last builder tool available as standalone product.

[[File:WINCE5_ONLOOXN100.png|thumb|right|The Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket LOOX N100 runs on Windows CE 5, which is normally hidden (with the exception of some scrollbars), but can be seen with a small hack.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pocket LOOX N100 Windows CE Hack| date=9 May 2009 |url=http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=513771}}</ref>]]

==Windows CE vs. Windows XP Embedded==
According to Microsoft, Windows CE is preferable to [[Windows XP Embedded]] in situations where demanding wireless and multimedia requirements need to be met. The following are the primary considerations for “choosing the right version”:
* '''CPU architecture''': Windows CE supports an extensive array of architectures, including [[x86]], whereas Windows XP Embedded only supports the x86 architecture.
* '''Real-time applications''': Windows CE is a [[real-time operating system]], while Windows XP Embedded is not by default.
* '''Existing Win32 applications''': Windows CE cannot use Win32 binaries, libraries, and drivers without modification.
* '''Memory footprint''': The minimum footprint of Windows CE is 350 kilo[[bytes]]. The minimum footprint of Windows XP Embedded is 8 megabytes, making it over 23 times larger.

There is also a difference in cost.

==See also==
* [[Handheld PC]]
* [[Pocket PC]]
* [[Personal Digital Assistant]]
* [[Windows Mobile]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite web|title=Which to Choose: Evaluating Microsoft Windows CE .NET and Windows XP Embedded|publisher=Microsoft Corporation|date=September 2003|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/a/d/dad198e1-920f-4579-8c0b-fb1b967e107d/choose.doc}}
* {{cite web|title=Portable CE 5.0|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/smakofsky/archive/2004/12/20/328001.aspx}}

{{History of Windows}}

[[Category:Windows CE]]
[[Category:MIPS operating systems]]
[[Category:Microsoft Windows|CE 5.0]]