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Rev

10

Excellent points, but also keep in mind that the current computer might have been built to withstand an industrial environment, whereas a common consumer-grade tablet/iPod might not last long if it hasn't been built to withstand the fumes, dust, etc.
– rob
Commented May 10, 2012 at 22:44
25

@rob true enough, but I'd even then recommend some third option over a non-protective OS running an unpatched IE connecting to industrial equipment.
– Rich Homolka
Commented May 10, 2012 at 22:53
6

There's also not a lot of Win3.1 support for realtime. -- except for the fact that any application can seize the CPU for as long as it wants, not giving it to the OS or any other application. This includes the bandsaw controller app.
– Random832
Commented May 10, 2012 at 23:57
19

This this this. The idea to put a browser in such a critical Win 3.1 box in that way is just mind-numbingly bad. I just woke up, so it's certainly the most stupid thing I've heard today :-) . The "Linux and Wine" solution that was mentioned sounds interesting to me if you necessarily have to have a browser on the very same computer that operates the bandsaw (still stupid, but a lot more secure, and it will take care of another problem: the Win 3.1 computer will break sometime. Be ready to upgrade). But for crying out loud: just get another isolated computer or device to do this.
– Daniel Andersson
Commented May 11, 2012 at 5:43
10

Win3.1 may not provide any real-time capabilities, but it also doesn't get in the way of software that provides its own, by installing custom interrupt handlers. That's one of the few things that makes 16-bit software really not work on Win9x and XP, so I'm fairly confident that's what's going on. Upgrading the computer is therefore a non-starter. The real question is why anyone expects the bandsaw controller to continue working if the configuration is changed (adding new software, etc.)
– Ben Voigt
Commented May 11, 2012 at 23:09

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