Do you think its possible to compile a windows embedded version for the N900, it has an ARM CPU so this shouldnt be too much of a problem because no emulation would be needed to an x86 CPU.
There's already a version for the N900s CPU, but unless there's full hardware support (graphics, sound, USB, GSM, etc) then you won't get much from it. At the best you'll just end up with a Windows CE smartphone though, so if that's what you want, just buy one.
Windows Mobile (which is based on Windows Embedded/CE) has always worked on ARM cores; driver support is more uncertain (although I doubt there are many components in the N900 that can't be found in other devices) - but the whole thing is closed source. Phone makers license the OS from MS (for a lot of money) and then work on customising it for their devices - there isn't really an entry route for amateurs.
Most (if not all) of the PDAs that ran Windows CE/Mobile were ARM based, most using an XScale chip (from Intel, until they got rid of it).
And to be honest, most stuff I did on my 5 year old PDA were almost as fast as on the n900 today (calendar, contacts,..). I cursed a lot when I ditched it to get an N810: no syncing, no calendar,.... still the worst unpolished piece of junk I've ever owned :/
I see, well I have had Win Mo devices and I still own a GPS in my car that runs Win CE 4.2 , though as far as I know Win CE and Embedded (can be found in cash registers, ATMs and the such) are NOT the same, Embedded is more like Win XP (rather than Win CE).
Im more interested in that side of the story.
I see, well I have had Win Mo devices and I still own a GPS in my car that runs Win CE 4.2 , though as far as I know Win CE and Embedded (can be found in cash registers, ATMs and the such) are NOT the same, Embedded is more like Win XP (rather than Win CE).
Im more interested in that side of the story.
The link you gave is for Windows Embedded CE though, and the Architecture Support tab suggests that MS have combined Windows CE and Windows Embedded with version 6 (as it lists CE 3-4, CE 5, and Embedded CE 6).