Tag: Dot Matrix

Point of Sale Hardware

Alliance asked:

Every Point of sale system has some pos peripherals. Some of the mandatory peripherals includes computer system, receipt printer, cash drawer, barcode scanners, and customer pole display. Computer terminals with operating systems like Windows or Linux are essential to map the software into Windows or Java and to integrate it with the peripheral devices. Receipt printers for retail outlets and hotels come with cash drawer ports and both the printers and the cash drawers share a single port with the PC, leaving other PC ports free for other peripherals of the POS system. Barcode scanners read product information from the price tag or barcode of the products and feed the information into the computer, which then processes it and prints it. The scanners and readers are usually wedges in point-of-sale keyboards, USB port or serial port of the computer.

Docket printer could be dot matrix or impact printers or thermal docket printers. Dot matrix printers are slow but economical and uses bond paper and ink ribbon for printing, whereas thermal printer only need thermal paper roll and it prints with heat (Similar to old fax machines). Thermal printing fades after few months, whereas docket printed by impact printer will remain for longer duration

Barcode scanner could be a handheld scanner or desktop (Bench) scanner or a cordless scanner. Handheld scanner also comes with intellistand whereas users do not have to press the trigger if scanner gun is kept on the stand. When any item with barcode is passed in front of the scanner, it sends the light to the barcode and scans or read the items barcode.

There are CCD scanner and Laser scanner. CCD scanners more economical than laser scanner. With CCD scanner you will have to bring the barcode very close to scanner, whereas laser scanner can read the barcode from a distance of 5-10 cm.

The entire business will run much more smoothly, as the entire system is amalgamated with inventory management System. As a result customers need not wait in long queues at cash counter.

Now it is quite clear that both customers and retailers get benefits from POS systems. Retailers can provide improved and quick service to the customers, manage the inventory efficiently and run their retail business very smoothly. While selecting a POS system, it is advisable to consult an expert POS vendor who can suggest you the best POS system which suites your requirement and, helps you to run your retail business efficiently.

There are some POS vendors who offer you a complete solution i.e. Pos hardware, software, and support for installation etc. It suggested that you buy your hardware thru POS vendor rather than your computer company. Reason for this is that not all the computer companies know this specialized industry. POS equipment also need special configuration to go with your computer. If you do not know sometimes you can waste hours of time trying to configure yourself.

Some of the known POS peripheral manufacturers are IBM, NCR, Javelin, Posiflex, Motorola, Metrologic, Datalogic, and HHP etc.

Which Usb?

Wilson Blaney asked:

Many of us older computer users remember the days when the only thing connected to a printer was the keyboard and a printer. In fact, those of us who are REAL old remember the days when the keyboard was part of the computer, as was the printer itself. More like a Telex machine than a modern-day computer, we typed on box-like keypads and it was printed out in dot-matrix.

At that time (well before USB or Firewire), we connected peripherals such as an external drive, a mouse, or a CD player by using an intricate procedure which involved turning everything off, connecting it, and turning it on again. And then we prayed.

In 1996, much of that changed for computer folks. Universal Serial Bus (USB) was developed to enable the ability to “plug and play”. This was a huge breakthrough in computers. By utilizing USB technology and internal USB drivers, users were able to switch devices simply by plugging them in. No more powering down, booting up, and waiting and hoping were involved.

For the next seven years, USB technology was phased in through the computer industry, with Apple adopting it fully in 1998. Once USB became standard, USB hubs began being produced. These USB hubs allowed users to connect more than one USB device (printer, mouse, keyboard, iPod, external drive, etc.) to a computer at a time, using only one USB driver and hub.

Early USB drivers were based on 1.0 technology, which now looks archaic. USB 2.0 technology was released in 2000 and added more functionality and a lot more speed. All computers produced today have a minimum of USB 2.0 drivers installed. In 2007, USB 3.0 was developed and is currently being integrated in computers.

Apple computers developed their own version of a faster USB technology, called “Firewire”. Firewire is considered to be faster, more reliable, and requires less computing power to function. Firewire 800 (or USB 800 as it is also known) is significantly faster than any USB and is particularly useful when used in conjunction with external hard drives and MP3 players.

USB 800 is also known for its power when moving large files between devices – movies, songs, photos. Anytime you download a movie or a collection of music to your Ipod, USB 800 is the best way to do it. The transaction will be faster and less likely to become corrupt.

Today there are a number of USB 800 manufacturers that provide drivers and input and output devices for computers. But remember, having USB 800 in your computer is not enough, you must have the cable to support it. By using a USB 1.0 or 2.0 cable, or even a cable equipped for USB 400, you are downgrading the power of your computer.

The purchase of USB 800 cables to support the speed of your computer is vital to take full advantage of its power. When purchasing cables, make sure the packaging states that it is USB 800 compatible, or you will miss out on the power your computer has.

USB 1000 is believed to be the next step in connectivity power. By ramping up the speed and performance of the traditional USB connectivity, computer makers are making it easier for you to run multiple peripherals off of one USB driver while maintaining excellent performance and reliability. USB 1000 is not industry standard at this time, but it is believed in years to come it will put the current USB speeds to shame.