Looks like WWIII will soon be upon us....

[Glaucus]

Nuclear Subs Now Run on Windows

• Microsoft Windows is now powering the British Royal Navy's nuclear-armed submarine fleet; giving all new meaning to the Blue Screen of Death.
  
  It would seem the British Royal Navy and BAE Systems have quite a bit of trust in the Microsoft Windows operating system, as BAE Systems have now finished retrofitting twelve Royal Navy submarines with systems running Windows XP and Windows 2000. The project, called Submarine Command System Next Generation (SMCS-NG), was in the works since 2002, when it was first proposed that commercial PC hardware running Microsoft Windows could be used as a platform for sensor and weapon control applications.

Well, it was real nice knowing all of you. See you in hell.

Btw, it must be somewhat embarrassing for MS that the military system designers have chosen to skip the two most recent Windows OS releases and are using a decade old version. :roll: I guess they didn't want Media Center anywhere near the doomsday weapons. Don't blame them.

 

[faethor]

Isn't this news about a year or more old?

While based on Windows I doubt it's the same as what you bought in the store. Likely it's focused and optimized Windows if not Windows Embedded. Take for example the Xbox 360. The 360 OS is based off the Xbox OS based off of Windows 2000. They've pulled out unneeded items and put in needed items. The OS is rock solid. (Now hardware RRoD is another thing.)

 

[Glaucus]

Hey you're right, it is a year old. And wow we're still alive! Funny that. A work mate forwarded me that, I assumed it was recent. Oh well. And you're probably right, they're most likely using the embedded version, but honestly I don't trust any version, although I'll admit that a stripped down windows on a strict hardware spec is likely your best bet at rock solid stable. As long as it doesn't get a virus or anything.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Oh, I thought more along the lines that empires in decline die thrashing, or war can still make profits when the economy declines, or there seems to be a building consensus that the west can get a war on with Iran - that sort of thing.

Or maybe there will be spill over from the US civil war that this unsubstantiated source claims is on the way.

Things would have to get a hell of a lot worse for this sort of thing to happen. The US population is generally too lazy, dumb and comfy to go and have a revolt unless there was outside instigation (and maybe there is because who wouldn't be tempted to kick a super-power when it's down?)

But before there's a revolution people would have to lose their cable (or digital broadcast) TV. Even then it would have to be a majority of desperate people. If it's just a few percent of folks then the rest will cheer the police on as they gun down the marching crowds of "losers". The rest love their chains too much.

 

[Robert]

Broken link, Fluffy.

 

[Glaucus]

You know, I should have know that this forum would have taken this thread a little too seriously... ython:

 

[Speelgoedmannetje]

The OS is rock solid. (Now hardware RRoD is another thing.)

Not considering real-time pre-emptive multitasking. Considering that, they could better have used an OS like LynxOS
Added to that, we all know the Windows kernel isn't proven to be bug free. this kernel, however, is.

Here in NL, the computers and software which drive our waterworks, are tested extremely thoroughly, because millions could die when it would crash during storm. I know (but I can't find a link) that the performance of that hardware is comparable to a 286, but it's so thoroughly tested that it just won't fail.

Unless that windows part is intended for less critical parts of those systems, someone is failing HARD there. (but what else is new considering UK government. I really like you UK guys, but your government sucks donkey balls)

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Broken link, Fluffy.

Probably removed. As I said, it was a bit unsubstantiated. The gist was that Russian intelligence had briefed Medvedev (and Putin) that Obama was planning in case of US civil war.

Certainly it is likely true that they have well advanced plans for dealing with widespread civil unrest (lots of practice from the Iraq theater) but as to conducting full fledged civil war there would have to be another team of sufficient strength to count as a warring party and I don't see that happening unless the police state crack down doesn't work to quell subversives.

 

[cecilia]

The OS is rock solid. (Now hardware RRoD is another thing.)

Not considering real-time pre-emptive multitasking. Considering that, they could better have used an OS like LynxOS
Added to that, we all know the Windows kernel isn't proven to be bug free. this kernel, however, is.

Here in NL, the computers and software which drive our waterworks, are tested extremely thoroughly, because millions could die when it would crash during storm. I know (but I can't find a link) that the performance of that hardware is comparable to a 286, but it's so thoroughly tested that it just won't fail.

Unless that windows part is intended for less critical parts of those systems, someone is failing HARD there. (but what else is new considering UK government. I really like you UK guys, but your government sucks donkey balls)

well, this is interesting. thanks

 

[Speelgoedmannetje]

The OS is rock solid. (Now hardware RRoD is another thing.)

Not considering real-time pre-emptive multitasking. Considering that, they could better have used an OS like LynxOS
Added to that, we all know the Windows kernel isn't proven to be bug free. this kernel, however, is.

Here in NL, the computers and software which drive our waterworks, are tested extremely thoroughly, because millions could die when it would crash during storm. I know (but I can't find a link) that the performance of that hardware is comparable to a 286, but it's so thoroughly tested that it just won't fail.

Unless that windows part is intended for less critical parts of those systems, someone is failing HARD there. (but what else is new considering UK government. I really like you UK guys, but your government sucks donkey balls)

well, this is interesting. thanks

Heh, you're welcome