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POS System
- Thread starter Micros888
- Start date
simple and stable..
Many to pick from. For greatest siimplicity and stability, shop for systems that don't run on top of Windows (IMHO). The CRS 3000 was excellent and reliable but out of production. Plenty of used ones out there to buy and plenty of support. Here is a link to Sharp's stuff. Never used it, but again, most systems without Windows like the Panasonic 7500 are quite stable. Panasonic will cost some $.
Bo
Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)
Many to pick from. For greatest siimplicity and stability, shop for systems that don't run on top of Windows (IMHO). The CRS 3000 was excellent and reliable but out of production. Plenty of used ones out there to buy and plenty of support. Here is a link to Sharp's stuff. Never used it, but again, most systems without Windows like the Panasonic 7500 are quite stable. Panasonic will cost some $.
Bo
Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)
alohaakamai3
IS-IT--Management
I more or less agree with Bo. If you're looking to sacrifice some features for simpicity and reliability, I would stay away from anything that runs on Windows. I have know a few customers who upgraded to more modern pos systems over the years, only to discover they were more than what they needed, with the more expensive upkeep and more things to go wrong.
TLowder
Programmer
- Mar 20, 2002
- 224
With a system without Windows comes a larger price tag. I use windows to keep the cost down for clients and I have very few issues. I have clients that rarely reboot there server machines. I've never tracked it but probably well over 6 months without a reboot. In my opinion reliability is more of a database issue or a poorly writen program with memory leaks. Memory leaks can lead a person to think there is a Windows issue because when you reboot everything is fine. Which database is the system based on and does it have redundancy, incase of a hardware problem, not a Windows problem. A lot of inexpensive Windows based POS systems run on an Access database which ussually will fail in a medium + or even small network environment depending on the current database connections/calls/size.
What does Aloho run on? I thought it was windows, or maybe that was Micros. If I'm wrong, what does Micros run on? I'm refering to more recent versions.
Tom
What does Aloho run on? I thought it was windows, or maybe that was Micros. If I'm wrong, what does Micros run on? I'm refering to more recent versions.
Tom
alohaakamai3
IS-IT--Management
Interesting. I am not really current on the cost of what the "advanced cash registers" (i.e. non windows) are going for, but I was under the impression they were kicking out 3 terminal systems for 7-8k, which is quite a bit less than what most of this second or first tier windows based systems are going for. I have run into a few in the bidding process (not very often though), and at that point, I usually start to get a little skittish because I figure the prospective client is buying mainly on price- or just isn't interested in the bells and whistles they will get with more advance stuff. I am sure I lose sales over it, but I am not one to talk one out of restaurant owners out of what they want because of the nature of this business. When you sell a system you end up with a client for 5-7 years whether you want them or not, and I would prefer to not have them resenting us because they over bought and don't see the benefits.
As TLowder suggested- I think the architecture in terms of how it's designed and what database it's using have a huge impact on it's performace and stability. That's actually one of the draw backs in ALoha, IMO. There is database info on the front of house terminals, which creates a lot of network traffic and communication- as opposed to say, systems that simply have a short cut running to the back office, where most of the processing is done there, similar to "dumb" terminals.
Aloha-on the front of house terminals will unofficially run on well on Windows 95 on up. I systems with W98SE-XP seem to be the most stable. Back of house wise, I have been pretty happy with XP. XP across the board is probably your best bet though.
As TLowder suggested- I think the architecture in terms of how it's designed and what database it's using have a huge impact on it's performace and stability. That's actually one of the draw backs in ALoha, IMO. There is database info on the front of house terminals, which creates a lot of network traffic and communication- as opposed to say, systems that simply have a short cut running to the back office, where most of the processing is done there, similar to "dumb" terminals.
Aloha-on the front of house terminals will unofficially run on well on Windows 95 on up. I systems with W98SE-XP seem to be the most stable. Back of house wise, I have been pretty happy with XP. XP across the board is probably your best bet though.
alohaakamai3
IS-IT--Management
Forgot to mention- in order to be fair to Aloha- that this design does contribute to one of Aloha's strongest features... system redundancy.
TLowder,
Most Aloha custmoers use the flat file database. There is an option to allow it to run on SQL. Needs to much attention unless you are a large chain like Chilis with an IT department. I think the poster, Aloha888, is probably running into a forced upgrade situation before they will support him, and that upgrade may be both software and hardware $$. It happens.
There is alot of truth in what you said about poorly written programs. Aloha was stable for us because we developed a paticular version to perfection and that is all we sold for the next year +.
I have worked with retail systems that run on SQL and Sybase. Again, to much attention required. These systems pride themselves on not having an end of day process. What this causes in a database full of crap, for lack of a more professional term. Why aren't programers building in database utilities that clean, compress, index, and do whatever else is needed on a daily bases. Joe the store manager shouldn't have to have an IT degree to use a turn-key product. (IMHO)
Bo
Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)
Most Aloha custmoers use the flat file database. There is an option to allow it to run on SQL. Needs to much attention unless you are a large chain like Chilis with an IT department. I think the poster, Aloha888, is probably running into a forced upgrade situation before they will support him, and that upgrade may be both software and hardware $$. It happens.
There is alot of truth in what you said about poorly written programs. Aloha was stable for us because we developed a paticular version to perfection and that is all we sold for the next year +.
I have worked with retail systems that run on SQL and Sybase. Again, to much attention required. These systems pride themselves on not having an end of day process. What this causes in a database full of crap, for lack of a more professional term. Why aren't programers building in database utilities that clean, compress, index, and do whatever else is needed on a daily bases. Joe the store manager shouldn't have to have an IT degree to use a turn-key product. (IMHO)
Bo
Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)
- Thread starter
- #8
alohaakamai3
IS-IT--Management
You can clone any hard drive as long as it's a file format ghost understands, and if you're running ALoha, then you're using windows. Not sure what you mean by key though, other than product installation key, which would have nothing to do with this.
- Thread starter
- #10
alohaakamai3
IS-IT--Management
Aloha888-
If you want help to these problems, you should probably start new threads and post these under separate topics, instead of adding what appear to be non-related topics to an old thread.
Also, they all contain a minimal of information. If you really want people to help you on here, more than a single sentence of information is usually needed.
Regarding your question- when you say you have to restart the Aloha CPU, do you mean your back office PC? If so, with the limited info given here, I suspect a ctlsvr problem.
If you want help to these problems, you should probably start new threads and post these under separate topics, instead of adding what appear to be non-related topics to an old thread.
Also, they all contain a minimal of information. If you really want people to help you on here, more than a single sentence of information is usually needed.
Regarding your question- when you say you have to restart the Aloha CPU, do you mean your back office PC? If so, with the limited info given here, I suspect a ctlsvr problem.
- Thread starter
- #12
Hi There,
How did you get on with looking at alternative solutions? May I show this one to you?
I am based in the midlands in the UK. Call if you are still looking.
Thank you.
How did you get on with looking at alternative solutions? May I show this one to you?
I am based in the midlands in the UK. Call if you are still looking.
Thank you.
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