Now we now why the entertainment systems are so flaky!

jojax14 · #1 (**permalink**) 6th November 2008, 12:30 AM

According to this article:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7707016.stm (sorry can't post as a link as I am too new, but I am sure you can work it out)

...the entertainment systems on long-haul Virgin and Qantas are still running on Windows 3.1!

W I N D O W S 3 . 1 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

That certainly explains a lot!

jj

albatross710 · #2 (**permalink**) 6th November 2008, 08:59 AM

Windows 3.1 is of course far more stable than 3.0.

My understanding on technology platforms is the lead time of development and testing for compatibility will all of the aircraft systems. Once they get a core platform that is working & approved the cost of changing is significant.

I do recall seeing an article about the early space shuttle which was running on the equivalent of a Commodore 64.

medhead · #3 (**permalink**) 6th November 2008, 09:58 AM

It could be worse, they could be running on vista

aubs · #4 (**permalink**) 6th November 2008, 10:08 AM

I have never seen a BSOD on QF AVOD systems,

although have seen lots of BSODs on digital advertising, timeboards etc of systems running XP

SeaWolf · #5 (**permalink**) 6th November 2008, 02:00 PM

Funny you should mention Windows 3.X
Just yesterday...
BBC NEWS | Technology | The end of an era - Windows 3.x

Quote:

An application has expectedly quit.
Windows 3.x has come to the closing moments of its long life.
On 1 November Microsoft stopped issuing licences for the software that made its debut in May 1990 in the US.

ejb · #6 (**permalink**) 6th November 2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aubs

I have never seen a BSOD on QF AVOD systems,

although have seen lots of BSODs on digital advertising, timeboards etc of systems running XP

The opening ceremony of the Chinese Olympic Games suffered a BSOD.

ejb

Evan · #7 (**permalink**) 6th November 2008, 03:23 PM

Hey, it is not windows 3.1, it is Windows CE (Much newer) however it does boot and pull the image for the OS via Z-Modem protocol. (Note: i am refering to the rockwell colins AVOD system)
There is a more detailed discussion here or FT but i could not find it.

I am not an expert of this subject at all but i have seen it boot with my own eyes so unless it was some trial with updated software on the A330's then it was for sure WinCE.

E