just because something CAN run XP embedded makes no statement of fact as to its reliability. XP Embedded is not a different OS, it is a subset or a componetized version of XP. it could be implemented as a full image of a normal distribution of XP if one wanted to. the XP kernel is still the same complex riddled with legacy code from WIN NT (which held legacy code from earlier products). XP embedded can crash too, but it won't crash because of certiain reasons, if it is engineered with care.