Comment Re:$500,00 equipment with WinXP (Score 1) 727
A lot of cafes in my country are using some Turbo Vision based software for processing orders and receipts.
Not a problem. Thousands upon thousands are turning to Apple iPads for processing orders and creating receipts. It is quite an interesting phenomena to see such an explosive change. Already I am getting asked everywhere do I want a printed receipt or would I prefer an email receipt. I always take the email version which makes my life easier and saves on paper clutter. I don't care if they use my email address to shoot me a special deal to get me to come back either.
That is another key example of how Apple created a disruptive change in how an industry operates. Everyone seems to have simultaneously discovered they don't really need a PC to replace a cash registrar. Today for example I had a guy slide my American Express right there into his iPhone case which had a credit card reader and I signed the screen with my finger. That is right up there as the world's smallest checkout terminal.
Another sea change due to smart phones is the appearance of QR Codes everywhere. I am seeing some businesses devote one whole window display to a gigantic QR code that can be easily read a block away. These point to catalogs, special deals or the menu of the day.
Bottom line XP doesn't do these things and when it is time o stop using it there is no need to waste money on a new PC that isn't particularly well designed for the checkout task.