What Is Windows XPe?
Windows XP Embedded or XPe is an embedded operating system, a compact version of the Windows XP Professional Edition operating system. Windows XPe was designed for use in a range of industrial and consumer electronic equipment, allowing original equipment manufacturers the ability to select the components they need and have a functional Windows XP OS on the equipment.
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Bootable OS
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Windows XPe can be set up as a purely bootable OS when necessary, with the required components available on a flash memory drive or a CD. This allows the hardware that XPe is run on to allocate space normally required for the operating system for other functions, and reduce the amount of space required in general.
Variable Components
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Windows XPe is built on the premise of componentization. Every facet of Windows XP Professional Edition is available as smaller, interchangeable pieces. With more than 12,000 components available, clients can tailor specific versions of XPe without paying more for features they don't use. XPe builds can be optimized specifically for use on specialized hardware, and the most basic versions of the system only occupy about eight megabytes of file space.
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Application Development
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Clients looking to develop software for Windows XPe or to add new software and functions as necessary won't need to find XPe specific software. Since XPe is a stripped-down version of Windows XP itself, any application that can run on XP can run on XPe, provided necessary hardware and components are present. This means that developers don't need to invest in a software development kit specifically for XPe or find applications that are properly formatted, saving time, money and productivity.
Operational Costs
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Depending on the needs of the user, Windows XPe might be an inexpensive alternative to a full installation of Windows XP or Vista. Since XPe can be configured with only what is needed and to fit the hardware needs of the system it's being installed to, there is no need to upgrade most modern hardware to accommodate XPe. With XP, more system resources may be required, increasing overhead.
Security
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Installing Windows XPe over XP may be a more secure option for companies concerned about viral attack. With a compact file-size, the area of attack and infiltration is limited. Depending on the specific application, minimal connectivity and active ports may also reduce vulnerability in the system.
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