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Linux In Robots, Windows in Handhelds
savuporo writes "Robots.net is reporting that Linux-based robots are far more common than Windows-based robotics. Especially various Asian robot builders are increasingly selecting Linux and other open-source software as a basis for robot products and research. Linux is also gaining ground in other embedded applications like PDAs and mobile phones." That said, prostoalex writes "50% of all the PDAs sold in 2003 had Palm OS, while Windows family accounted for 37.7% of PDA market. In 2004 Microsoft is the leader of handheld OS market with 43% market share, followed by Palm OS with 36.3%."
I'm not sure which OS I should use for my handheld robot.
over CP/M.
By the way, has Commodore released the C=64 CP/M cartridge yet? All my valuable early 80s software is orphaned!
Creators of robots use Linux to control them because robots would be far too dangerous when infected with spyware.
Imagine you forget to patch your mobile, appendage-laden Windows-running robot, connect it to the Internet and suddenly it wakes you up in the middle of the night with a mischievous look on its face.
I'm a big tall mofo.
Maybe it's because of the MLoR:
First Law:
A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless it interferes with making a profit.
Second Law:
A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law, or interferes with making a profit.
Third Law:
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law, or interferes with making a profit.
try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
Because we all know how great of a memory and process manager Windows is.
If Windows managed the memory of a robot, then the robot would truly have shit for brains.
If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
Loading a Microsoft product into a robotic device would be like using it to operate my car, and i wouldn't recommend that. It would crash at least once per day, and i'd have to restart the car several times on any significant journey.
Seriously though, i can envision a world in which M$ software is installed into every robotic device, a world with lawns half-mowed, floors half-vacuumed, and hackers running out of coke while programming because their robotic butlers have had to reboot 4 times between the refrigerator and the basement.
There are 10 kinds of people in the world: That averages about 660,000,000 of each kind.
Lindows, of course.
Linux for vital production use, Windows for useless toys.
>> would ANY robot run windows?
/. without appearing an illiterate asshole - unlike your good self.
Because Windows has a spell checker that would allow the robot to post on
A robot may not harm or arrest any executive or employee of Microsoft Corporation.
...unless it interferes with making a profit.