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Linux on a Used Cash Register: Reloaded
plimsoll writes "Hot on the heels of the original cash register running Linux, dumpster-diver Aaron Benoy has implemented his own GNU/Linux POS project with a twist: Ruins in ASCII, a late IBM 4694 removed from its case and reloaded with Linux to become a self-described 'video sculpture' showcasing 'an infinite loop of 180 distinct 7-second long video clips of various abandoned, ruined or otherwise vacant buildings and infrastructure' on its 9-inch paper white phosphor terminal display. Southern geeks can see it unveiled tonight at the Atlanta Underground Film Festival."
Pretty slow by today's standards (still better than my k6-2 at 350 Mhz), but, yes, there's nothing incredible about making a computer with those specs run Linux. Making different things run Linux is more of an inside joke or geek art. It's amusing, though not amazing.
I'm not sure that makes this less cool, since
(1) it's a freekin' cash register
(2) it's definitely isn't your typical slashdot-geek's video subsystem.
The 'found in a dumpster' bit is pretty cool, too. As is the 'retooled industrial equipment as art' spin. I like it.
But, no, it's not something from the mid-80's or anything. It's 'just' a cash register.
How about Menuet running on an ATM?
here in NYC, a lot of things run windows. When you go to penn station, the NJ Transit ticket machines are running NT 4. I've seen errors on them in the past, they software that's actually driving the display's UI and all that is just a visual basic application. Sometimes they crap out or bluescreen. not very often, though. I've only seen it happen 4 or 5 times in the past couple years. It's really neat to watch them reboot the system. You can see it pinging all its ticket servers and stuff. I assume they have the servers' firewall configured in such a way as to only allow incoming traffic from known IPs, either that, or their attached to a private network. either one wouldn't surprise me.
Even the Amtrak ticket machines run on computers. When you see the tech guy open the machine's case, there's a little beige tower inside with a keyboard and mouse.
lately, everything seems to be running windows. Frequently, in times square, the huge animated billboards will be bluescreened. It's pretty funny. You'd think that software for made for doing this stuff wouldn't crap out. You'd hope that no one installs quake on these machines or any other non-related software, but I guess people do.
I guess putting quake on the adserver box is to a windows geek what putting linux on a toaster is to a real geek.
...spike
Ewwwwww, coconut...
"The sad thing about this article is that we still don't have a decent, non-specific, OSS point-of-sale package for *nix.""
Are you serious?
http://www.linux-pos.org/ etc. Have you ever even looked up "Linux pos" on google. There are many stores which are currently using Linux in POS devices. Shit, call up NCR, IBM etc. Or Did you mean OSS as in open and Free with source, Professionally done sitting there on the Net just waiting for you? Because if that's the case I suggest you forget that and call up any of the many vendors who deal in Linux pos and have them pay you a visit instead.
"Retail is the perfect place for Linux and the BSDs. Retail people need simple, easy-to-use interfaces and they do not want to deal with the problems associated with administering Microsoft OSes (worms, spyware, etc)."
Correct. Hence all the big chains going to Linux for pos terminals. Its already happening.
Nope, not an option. I'm a very experienced Perl programmer but that's irrelevant. A Web-based application cannot open cash register draws, draw to an LCD, or print receipts...at least, not without a really kludgy server-to-client piece.
I was planning on writing an extension to firefox to control a draw. And there are plenty of programs on the net linking a LCD with a webpage with input. As for printing, css can handle that. The program could even have predefined label sets that work. As an added bonus, I was planning on accepting bar code reader input, and integrating with credit card companies. I did my homework, and from working three years in that dreaded shop I know what a POS needs.
Main reason I wanted to go PHP, was people seem to know how to use a webpage. Also you can easily integrate it with an online site.