Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry is now available for use

The Windows 8.1 operating system version has been available for a long time already, and last week, Microsoft announced that the latest OS version is now available for industrial solutions as well. This new version is called Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry.

This operating system has the same major features as its "normal" commercial counterpart, but some details are different, and by default, the embedded version is more lean. For .NET developers, you can build the same applications for example with C# as you can for desktop OS versions, but depending on your needs, you might run into certain features that are not available.

I've tested this new version on a MinnowBoard embedded computer, and it runs smoothly there. That said, the Embedded Industry version is a welcome addition to the family of Windows 8.1 OS'es.