The MinnowBoard MAX is an x86-based small footprint device which costs about $140 (depending on hardware configuration). There is a special version of the new Windows 10 IoT Core for this board, but now you can also do the installation of the full Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro.
This is very interesting because you can now use all Embedded Features to lock down or customize the device. It is also possible to run the system from a removable USB device (normally the operating system is on the MicroSD card).
I have tried to do the installation and created a small step-by-step guide covering:
- Preparing the installation media
- Configuring the UEFI boot settings on MinnowBoard MAX
- Installing Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro
- Running the OS from a USB drive
- Applying embedded lockdown features
This opens up interesting possibilities for building compact, low-cost embedded devices using full Windows Embedded. Contact Elbacom for more information on licensing and deployment options for the MinnowBoard MAX platform.