Need HELP: Building a POS Machine any advice ?

[jayfunk]

My brother is opening up a Nutritional Supplements business and he wnated a Computer based Point of Sale machine that would allow him to do multiple tasks.

1.Point of Sale
2.Keep Inventory / Remove from Inventory when items purchase
3.Keep Customer Information
4.Allowed special codes to be inputed for special discounts and such
5.The Use of Gift Cards / Certificates

This would be my first time setting up one of these machines, I have no idea as to what type of software to consider looking into, I have done some searches and found a couple titles that maybe some of you are familiar with. One being RetailICE the other being RetailSTAR...

As for hardware... what type of hardware should be ran with this type of software... I was thinking something along the lines of a p4 2.2 / 256 or 512 DDR / 40GB 5400rpm Raid 1 (mirroring) ... He would like to have an external viewer (tells whats being rung up), as well as a thermal printer of some sort or perhaps just a standard laser printer that will allow to print up the invoice / receipt.


Anyone that has experience with this I would appreciate it if you could possibly give me some pointers are at least lead me into the right direction. Thanks.

 

[Lyfer]

Get a cheap Dell. You can get P4 2.66GHZ with 17inch monitor for $499 after rebates at dell. Just add a tape backup or even zip drive for backing data.


Link to system

 

[nitromullet]

Sorry, I know this doesn't answer your post, but my first thought was,"why would anyone intentionally build a POS machine!?!", then I realized that you meant point of sale...

Seriously though, it looks like you might be shooting higher than you need to with the hardware... from the RetailICE website: http://www.camcommerce.com/prod_retailice_QA.htm#5

 

[martind1]

ha ha, i thought POS too (the other POS). p4 2.6 seems like it might be a bit overkill. That beign said i don't knwo the software.

but look at that dell, see if you can skimp on the processor that would be my first skimping point.

i cant imagine stand alone POS software needing a heavy processor.

40 gb seems like alot to me, only because I see the information moving overnight from the POS computer to a storage computer in an office somewhere that then updates inventory databases.

then that machine being setup to back up to tape, or being mirrored. That just seems like a better idea to me. But that is just me. feels more secure to have the info being moved away from POS to the office at least every night.

 

[jayfunk]

Well hardware wise I already have a P4 2.2Ghz CPU + 512MB DDR that I had laying around extra... So I figure too much wouldnt be a problem it could only help and not hurt

What about software any have any more input on the software... what do they think about it ?

 

[martind1]

well, if you have it layign around, then the price is right!! lol.


only thing I have to say abbout POS software, is that its cool to do it all in-house. but of course that is a lot of work.

 

[Dreadogg]

yea I thought that also, guess your best bet is dell cause you really cant beat the price with the monitor and keyboard case mouse etc..

 

[Dreadogg]

see what happens when you get up and go to the bathroom before posting

 

[NokiaDude]

IBM makes some nice touch screen POS's. We have them at work and they're sooo easy to use.

 

[jayfunk]

IBM also charges about $4,000-6,500 PER Machine...

Ughhh what happend to small business ?

 

[martind1]

Originally posted by: jayfunk
IBM also charges about $4,000-6,500 PER Machine...

Ughhh what happend to small business ?

I assume you mean, besides they all got bought out.

 

[jayfunk]

Been reading up more... anyone ever seen quickbooks point of sale 3.0 ?

Seems like it would do the job...

 

[Zepper]

Probably just me but I wouldn't let anything Quick(en) near my books - they are arrogant bahstahds just like M$. And I know I'm probably tacking against the wind here, but I wouldn't allow any M$ software newer than DOS 6.22 on my business systems either - just too much unnecessary mishmash that can go wrong/cause problems.
Look for something that can run on BSD or Linux. You/he will sleep better at night and improve the bottom line...
. Here is a page of Shareware POS solutions and there is at least one for DOS and one for Linux: http://www.totalshareware.com/asp/list_view.asp?catid=345.
PC Cash Register for Linux sounds pretty good, but I'm sure there are others - it just will take a bit of research.
. You can then input the daily totals from the POS report into Peachtree or whatever bkkpng sw you choose when the store is closed - MYOB is another good one. Or you can find one for DOS or Linux - none of these softwares need a GUI. I think a GUI just gets in the way of this type of app. Other sources of info would be retail trade (perhaps even specific to supp. retailing) journals. Good luck.
. Here are a couple of locations for POS HW (bar code readers, CC stripe readers, pole displays, cash drawers, receipt printers, etc.)/SW from the back of Computer Shopper:
www.nurol.com - www.pcamerica.com - there are lots of others, use your fave search engine...
.bh.
:moon:
p.s. You don't need any fancy hardware for this - anything around 1GHz/256k of RAM will do (e.g. a Duron Applebred on a VIA 266A based mobo would be gross overkill!). Sturdy, spill-proof kbd/CC reader and filters (checked and cleaned frequently) on your air intake fans ARE important.bh.

 

[martind1]

wow, nice anti-microsoft rant.


I am not sure how much trust to put into a rant like this. just plain shows short sightedness.

 

[Zepper]

Doesn't require "trust", just the capacity to evaluate the evidence in a logical manner... Does the POS at Walmart run on Windows, at KMart, any major installation? Why not? After all, a wintel based cash register would cost less than what they use on each checkout lane, so why not? I didn't think so...
.bh.

 

[martind1]

After all, a wintel based cash register would cost less than what they use on each checkout lane, so why not?

what?


oh ya, its only 1 POS machine in this scenario

 

[jayfunk]

To get back on topic, but to add my two sense to what you are talking about... I personally do not like windows as an OS...

We have IBM machines throught our company over 550 stores use the same registers... Running Win NT w/ service pack 4... Some of the software we use (which was designed by IBM) is just plain HORRIBLE, always crashing... Me and Dr. Watson are good friends and have the occasional after work drink... but at any rate...

It's not my choice and my brother and his employee I doubt would know how to use any other OS other than Winblows. And to be honest the conjuction w/ quickbooks and their POS software was a major plus that he liked...

Thanks for the input... Really quick anyone know what types of connections these machines use to hook up. scanners, thermal printers, credit card swipers etc... thanks.

 

[InlineFive]

If the POS is DOS based then you could run it on something like 200Mhz! But if it's Windows based you might want to consider something with at least 1GHz. A 1.4Ghz Duron for $40 would work nicely.

-Por

 

[martind1]

usually i have seen these devices hooked up through serial ports. But who knows now. take a look around. some might use newer methods (i.e. usb etc)