Professional Windows® Embedded Compact 7

.NET CF APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS

A Compact 7 device is typically built based on a resources constrained design specification to keep the cost low with just the sufficient processing, memory, and storage resources to serve the intended purpose. The .NET CF library is a miniature version of the .NET Framework from the desktop Windows OS, with some of the features and function removed and optimized to support resource-constrained devices. When developing a Compact 7 application, you need to be aware of the Compact 7 device’s limited resources and nonstandard system architecture, compared to the desktop PC.

Similarity to Windows Phone 7

Although many similarities exist between the OS and .NET CF environment for the Windows Phone 7 and a custom designed Compact 7 device, they are not the same. Some of the Windows Phone features are unique to the Windows Phone platform and not available to Compact 7. For example, although Silverlight for Windows Phone 7 supports managed code, Silverlight for Windows Embedded is based on native code.

For .NET CF development, whether you develop a .NET CF application for Windows Phone or a customized Compact 7 device, the general programming principles and practices are the same.

As Windows Phone is gaining market share and momentum, there are more .NET CF application information resources related to the Windows Phone and Windows Mobile platform than the Compact 7 platform, which you can use and apply to the .NET CF development for the Compact 7 platform. ...