is there an EE-PROM in DRE box? (DIebold touchscreen)

[Ellipsis]

Posting another thread looking for TRIAD data, I got this response on the DRE boxes.
from boredtodeath.

.....The redundant storage is removable flash drives.

Primary storage is a PCMCIA card.

Data is transmitted over insecure, standard phone lines (typically the school/polling place fax line to avoid the PBX) in a plain-text file. The file is intentionally changed to plain text because Diebold couldn't figure out how to transfer an encrypted file and unencrypt it on the other end. (That last statement seems a little goofy they couldn't figure that out?)

The DRE box is basically a laptop with a touchscreen - 286 (old) processor, no co-processor and the operating system, software and ballot definition files are loaded into firmware during an election.

The software date on the PCMCIA card is compared to the date of the software in the firmware on PowerOn and an upgrade to the firmware is automatic if the dates don't match.

Would that make that an EE-PROM, in the CPU? If so, why would a manufacture use an EE-PROM adding additional expense. Does he have to? If not, would this show method and intent in engineering?

Anybody know the manufacture date, or lifespan of the DRE machines?

Again defining acronyms
ROM read only memory
PROM Programmable Read only memory
E-PROM electronic programmable read only memory
EE-PROM Erasable programmable memory

The order, is also, sort of it's practical historical introduction into mainstream computing. the first be the least expensive ( though not at the time of its introduction) The latest chips would last have the highest cost. The more chips produced over time the lower the cost of goods.

k

[Alizaryn]

1. Good question...why? Any computer people out there?

"Would that make that an EE-PROM, in the CPU? If so, why would a manufacture use an EE-PROM adding additional expense. Does he have to? If not, would this show method and intent in engineering?"

[Ellipsis]

2. update:

Heres the question that need be answered.

How old are the DRE boxes?

What would they be doin with a 286 chip in it? (old tecnology) and EEPROM relitively newer technolgy. and USB isn't that old. USB 1.0 came out around 1998. Touchscreen technolgy is relatively new as well.

k