Pocket PC Versus Windows CE

[moko]

If we had to develop a .NET Smart Devices application, what are the pros and
cons in choosing between Pocket PC OS, and Windows CE ? This may be an
age-old question, but hope somebody has the patience to explain.

 

[Chris Tacke, eMVP]

Pocket PC is a platform layer that sits on top of Windows CE. The question
you should probably ask is "what kind of device that is commercially
available fits my application needs and budget" then go from there. If you
have specific questions ask, but it's a fair amount of work to list the
differences, since there is no "standard CE".

This may help as well:
http://www.opennetcf.org/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=317

-Chris

 

[Glyn Meek]

In my humble opinion, this is much more a marketing issue than a development
issue!

The development effort is similar on both devices, but it depends entirely
on who you wish to market your product to, and what device you want to
target!

Glyn

 

[Bruce Hamilton [MSFT]]

Of course the Pocket PC operating system is Windows CE based as is the
Smartphone. Glyn's answer is correct. It's also worth noting that in the
..NET Framework reference documentation (for the Betas for .NET Compact
Framweork version 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005) the mobile platforms listed
in the Platforms section for a Type or Member are 'Windows Mobile for
Pocket PC', 'Windows Mobile for Smartphone', and 'Windows CE'.

Even though Smartphones and Pocket PCs are Windows CE powered devices we
make this disctintion because of different form factors. Smartphone does
not contain the Button class for example.

Some examples of Windows CE projects are embedded devices and other devices
built with Platform Builder which can then run the .NET Compact Framework.

- Bruce R. Hamilton
..NET Compact Framework User Education
This response is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.