The submitter never mentioned popcorn. The first RESPONSE mentioned popcorn, but that is NOT the original poster. If you are going to chastise or correct someone (twice), if helps if you are correct.

See the post directly above yours (from the submitter). It wasn't me who was not paying attention.

I don't see anything in his request about playing media (although maybe he wants to do that). It seems to me what he wants is some cheap device that acts as a VNC client (with sound), using his TV as the monitor.

Why would the FDA prevent it? It has aleady been approved and used in the past. And if the USDA is preventing it, that isn't really a drug company, is it?

So, start a company that makes animal insulin. The patents are long gone, there's nothing stopping you.

Been like that pretty much forever. Before they had the stores they had service bays. And if that friendly guy who checked your oil just happened to notice that your hoses looked bad, well... But then the newer cars started needing less and less service, so the bays were replaced with stores.

You're both right in a way. The 3278s did have a cap lock next to the A key. That was because the 3278s replaced typewriters in the corporate environment. The original PC/XT/AT systems were not targeted at the corporate environment, they were targeted at the SOHO market. Those keyboards did not have the caps lock next to the A key. The 3270PC was used as a replacement for 3278, and it had the caps lock next to the A. This was the first IBM PC targeted for corporate. After that most of their PCS were corporate use, and they retained that layout.

And by the time you have modified the ATM software you no longer have an ATM, you have this safe. So what exactly is the point?

ATMs require access to the account. Think it's a good idea to give all your employees access to your bank account?

ATMs do not count the money (well, some count individually inserted bills - just what you want your employee to be doing)

ATMs do not create reports of deposits made.

ATMs do not allow management to remotely check on deposits.

It is a 'safe' in the same sense an ATM is a safe. It counts (and sorts) the money that is inserted and credits it to your bank account. It records who made deposits (requires user management). It prints reports. It notifies Brinks when it is time to empty the safe. It allows a remote manager access to see deposits made, etc.

So at the very least it needs to interface with a bill counter/sorter, network (encryption, etc), touch screen, printer, card reader, and lock mechanism. Is there any reason besides stupidity you would implement all that with a FPGA or hard-coded application?

A rather key feature of this 'safe' is that it counts the cash and credits your bank account. It notifies Brinks when a pickup must be made. It prints reports of deposits made, etc. It allows a central location to see that deposits are being made and how much money is in the safe. It has multiple users and roles. It has a touch screen to allow for management of user and roles, logging on, reporting, unlocking, etc. It is getting harder and harder to do on a simple microcontroller with no OS, and impossible to do without some sort of external connectivity.

Well, it is easy to make statements like that when you have no idea what the thing actually is or how it is used.

First, this thing is meant to be used in stores, gas stations, etc. The employee logs on and puts the cash in and it is counted and reported to the bank. The manager can check and see how much cash is in there and who put it in. At some later time, an armed Brinks employee comes in and empties the safe.

So, what happens with your simple safe? Assuming you aren't dumb enough to give the employees the combination you need a 'drop' type safe. OK. But now you don't know how much money is in it until you open it (security problem). The money is just sitting in your safe, useless, until it gets delivered to the bank. So how do you get the money to the bank? Open the safe, take out the cash, and drive it to the bank yourself? Giant security problem. Have Brinks come and pick it up daily? More secure, but expensive. Who opens the safe when you are not available? Now you have to give the combination to someone else. Security problem.

Here is one of these safes. The first, most obvious thing is that it has a touch-screen device, a printer, a network connection, a card reader, a cash counter, and a safe. That is a lot of hardware to drive with no OS.

It also has mutliple users, with various roles for each user. Sounds like more OS stuff.

It has ways to add and delete users, and change passwords. More OS stuff.

It can make reports, so obviously it has some sort of storage, which means some sort of file system. More OS stuff.

It has ways to update the software. More OS stuff.

So the real question is, why would anyone in their right mind NOT use an OS on a device like this?

Hey morons, you already posted this TODAY.

Thre don't get penalized for walks. If they are walked it doesn't count as an 'at bat', so it has no effect on their average at all.