embedded XP

I am not a student let me say this right off the bat. Although I am a novice to programming and the like as far as computers go. I do have an electrnoics degree and work in industrial automation but the questions I have are well above my head and I am trying to get a hold on something for a project I am working on.

I would like to know a little about embedded XP. As in how it works. I am not sure if it will work for my application but have a feeling it may. I basically want to put XP on the smallest chip possible and the main components I would want to retain are networking capabilities.

What are some of the chips I can use embedded XP on and links would help a lot.
I need them to have a networking port on them. RJ-45

I may also need to have a need for USB to be plugged in.

I guess what I am looking for is a mini computer without the bulk of a PC or even a laptop for that matter. But still have the ability to load some drivers and connect throught my router to it.

I want this on a budget 3-5 hundred dollars.

It is for a home automation type communication project I am working on. If anyone is able to help please post here or email me direct.

[email - snipped email]

Thanks for your time

Let me also add that I would be willing to pay for the right help in completion of my project. Once it is complete

Does this look like what I could use?

http://www.wyse.com/products/winterm...ries/index.asp

XP embedded actually comes in two different flavors:

XP Pro SP2, Componentized
XP Pro POS (Point of service)

Both run on only the X86 processors.

XP Pro componentized has a kernel footprint of around 40MEG. The POS version which is an installable version as opposed to being componentized has a kernel footprint of around 300-400 meg. Componentized means that you can pick and choose what you want to add to the base system. Examples of components are sockets, serial capability, web browser capability etc.

CE6 is also an embedded componentized system with around a 300K kernel footprint. Since it was built form the ground up, it can run on four different processor architectures, X86, ARM family of CPU's, Mips family of CPU's and the SH processors from Hitachi. It has around 700 available components.

Thus, you may want to review CE6 for your home automation security project.

I'd like to hear more about your project. Unfortunately, I can't take you up on your offer but I probably can provide some limited assistance. Please PM me if interested.

As for hardware, just put "micro atx" into a search engine, and you'll find plenty of people selling very small footprint (and power usage) devices.

You also should consider other OS alternatives as well
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_operating_system

Here are some places to find out more information
http://www.home-automation.org/
http://www.smarthome.com/
http://www.homeauto.com/main.asp
Again, google the obvious phrases.

hocbry30,

I'm an independent developer in the security/automation field. I may already have a product that meets your needs. It's listed on Smarthome.com and it interfaces to the Homeauto.com controllers.

Bob email me direct at <<snipped>>
MOD EDIT - Use private messages

Will email you ASAP.