Why Linux Now? Why Not Earlier?

• Embedded processors now have memory management

• Component price reductions:

  • Embedded devices very price sensitive

• Power consumption reductions:

  • '92 i486@50MHz 5W vs. '00 NEC4181@66MHZ .2W
  • More integration, fewer components
  • Power save features, e.g. Hibernate mode

• Much larger group of Linux programmers

• Much larger body of software