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Point Of Sale System, POS Basics and General Information
The POS / Point of Sale System products we supply include personal computer-based terminals,receipt printers, cash drawers, magnetic stripe readers, keyboards, barcode scanners, printers,
portable data collection terminals, wireless devices and other related equipment and peripherals.
Every point-of-sale system should have a receipt printer. Each receipt printer comes with one or two cash drawer ports for direct attachment. This allows two devices - printer and cash drawer - to share a single port on the PC, which is beneficial because there are generally more peripheral devices than available ports on a PC. Several options are available for most receipt printers, including journal take-ups, cutter mechanisms, slip validation and MICR units. 
The cash drawer is another necessary component in any point-of-sale system. Most cash drawers are printer-driven. Each receipt printer manufacturer has a unique cash drawer interface, making each cash drawer printer-specific. Cash drawers may also be attached independently via serial or parallel port. 
Magnetic stripe readers are convenient for retailers who want to accept credit or debit cards. They're usually attached as a keyboard wedge or directly to a serial port, and are most often configured to read tracks one and two or track two only. To accept credit or debit card, credit card authorization software and a modem are needed to fill out the solution.
Using a technology called magnetic ink character recognition ( MICR ), check readers are capable of reading special characters printed on the bottom of a personal check. These characters are printed using magnetic ink to prevent check fraud. The check reader uses the same connectivity as a magnetic stripe reader, and also requires software and a modem.
Keyboards have various configurations for the point of sale environment. Some are standard 101-key keyboards, with integrated magnetic stripe readers, barcode scanners, decoders and programmable keys. Other POS keyboards are specifically designed for the environment, with fewer keys and a smaller footprint. 
Bar code scanning provides for speed and accuracy at the checkout counter. Common scanners include CCDs, hand-held laser scanners, and omni-directional scanners (see 
Also known as a pole display, this device displays item and price information, as well as product advertising. It contains either a fluorescent or LCD display and attaches either to the serial or parallel port. 
Scales are necessary for retailers who sell a product by weight. The scale must be certified by the state Board of Weights and Measures and must be NTEP-certified by the manufacturer. Scales are usually attached to a serial port. 
The applications software is the most important part of any point of sale solution. The software is always chosen first and determines the hardware selection. Remember the following tips: Refer to your software manual before choosing any point of sale hardware. We can help you configure your POS system for a successful implementation.