Cool, I never really thought about it being hard-coded on the microrocessors. I once heard that operating systems may eventually go that route as well because of the performance increase it offers.

Haha, maybe if you go back in time. That’s how computers worked in the olden days, software is the new thing. The only thing people use ROMs for is equipment they expect to be using in harsh environments that is critical – space shuttles, military equipment, etc. Our PC equipment today is much too susceptible to alteration by stray charged particles.

Given the planes require a different operating environment (namely real-time requirements) than PCs, I’d say something other than Windows.

I believe, they are using special software, which is hard-coded on microprocessors (just like military anti-aircraft security systems). Such software starts up in less than a second.

Now that you said that, I wonder what runs the autopilot system on a plane.

Given the planes require a different operating environment (namely real-time requirements) than PCs, I’d say something other than Windows.

Hospitals are using UNIX. It is is stable proprietary operating system. They use older, tested, versions of UNIX, built SPECIALLY for given hardware, with minimalistic set of applications, just kernel and single main application. 100% tested, 100% working.

That’s what I was thinking.

I could understand that hospitals use Windows for nursing stations and everything, but I figured for some of the more critical equipment that is used they would have something that is a lot more stable. Actually, Windows 2000 is really stable and I could see that being used.

I was thinking that they would just have an application that they pull up via the command line, but after all of your explanations I can see why they use Windows.

I think I almost died on the floor laughing!

Now that you said that, I wonder what runs the autopilot system on a plane.

OH MY GOD, ARMAGEDDON JUST BEGAN!!!

[quote]In her words, “Everything is done in Windows because that’s all anyone knows.”

OK, Linux GUI have the same familiar windows with buttons, scrollbars, and so on, just like any modern OS. Why hospitals use this must-die buggy software, when there are operating systems, created by real hackers, like Linux, BSD and UNIX?

For example UNIX stability is tested for ages. It is quite old, but wisely organized and extremely stable and secure OS.

What’s wrong with this world? Or maybe this is in USA only?

As a side note:My doctor’s office recently switched to “paper-less” records. I don’t know if that’s new or not, but it is around here. Each nurse carries around a laptop, and when you go in, they type in the medications your on, symptoms if your sick, etc. I’m actually surprised it’s taken them this long to make that switch, but they finally have. No more cases full of files!

“…In tragic news today, the soon-to-retire Chairman of Microsoft, Bill Gates has died in a terribly ironic accident. While driving his custom-built automated car, which runs on Vista, the car blue screened, causing a crash at 100mph.”

This makes me wonder what hospitals actually use? Maybe just some simple command line thing that’s tailored to their needs?

Would you want your nurse using a command-line tool to chart your medical history? It would take them hours! They need an application that’s easy and fast to use.

As a hospital administrator, would you want to train hundreds of nurses and other staff members to use tons of different command-line tools? How many switch commands do yo think there would be? I can see it now, “Oops, I didn’t mean have his testicles removed, I guess I used the wrong switch.”

Almost every hospital worker has to use these application. Transportation, pharmacy, bed control, all nursing staff, aids, all therapy staffers, x-ray and imaging, surgery, dietary, the list goes on-and-on.

Nearly ALL electronic medical records (EMR) are Windows based.

I’m sure that UNIX comes in to play with database servers. I’m betting a lot of hospitals use Oracle on UNIX.

… and what about hospitals — Bill is just kidding. It is absolutely impossible. There is NO hospitals in the world, where ANY Windows version is used on serious medical computers.

You’re commenting about something you know noting about. Hospitals around the country are switching to Windows. I’ve seen Windows 2000 and XP in use at several hospitals for mission critical tasks. Like, heart monitors, viewing X-rays, medical charting, processing orders, labs are ordered and results put into the system, pharmacy orders are processed, EVERY THING is done on Windows based systems. My wife, a Nurse Practitioner, has worked in several hospitals over the last 7 years and knows what she is talking about. In her words, “Everything is done in Windows because that’s all anyone knows.”