Choosing a Windows OS for point-of-service (POS) device applications

By Doug
2006-03-10

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Foreword: Which Windows platform is best for use in POS (point-of-sales/service) devices such as information kiosks, POS terminals, self-checkout systems, price-checking terminals, fuel pumps, and ATMs? The answer is: it depends. This Microsoft whitepaper is intended to assist companies in selecting the right Windows OS for their particular POS application.

Choosing a Windows OS for point of service device applications

by Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft has a broad collection of operating system platforms that can be used in point of service (POS) devices that are typically deployed in retail and hospitality organizations. These can include point of sale terminals, information kiosks, self-checkout systems, price-checking terminals, fuel pumps, and ATMs. The purpose of this document is to help enterprises determine the best operating system platform to use on these devices.

Below is a list of frequently asked questions that may assist you in making a decision about which operating system is most appropriate for your POS devices. A table follows representing a list of the features and components associated with each of the following Microsoft operating system options: Windows XP Professional, Windows Embedded for Point of Service, Windows XP Embedded, and Windows CE 5.0.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Windows Embedded for Point of Service the next version of Windows XP Embedded?

No. Windows Embedded for Point of Service is a new operating system that has been developed and optimized for use on POS devices such as self-checkout, information kiosks, and point of sale devices. Windows XP Embedded will continue to be licensed for use on fully customized embedded devices and for use on POS systems with unique requirements not supported by Windows Embedded for Point of Service.

What are the key differences between Windows XP Professional and Windows Embedded for Point of Service?

Licensing differences -- Windows XP Professional is licensed to support general purpose PC applications that can include Office Automation software such as Microsoft Office. Windows Embedded for Point of Service is an embedded operating system that is licensed for use on dedicated devices that provide only POS functionality.
Distribution differences -- Windows Embedded for Point of Service is only available either preinstalled on POS devices from Microsoft OEM partners or as an upgrade on existing POS devices. Windows XP Professional is available preinstalled on PCs or POS devices, as an upgrade to existing systems, through Microsoft Volume Licensing programs, or direct to the end user by means of retail sales channels.
Functionality differences -- While much of the functionality of Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the same as with Windows XP Professional, hardware requirements for Windows Embedded for Point of Service are lower than for Windows XP Professional. Additionally, Windows Embedded for Point of Service provides multilingual user interface (MUI) language support for eight core languages as part of setup, compared to the full language pack support provided by Windows XP Professional.

Can Windows CE be used on POS devices?

Yes. Windows CE is a good OS platform option for very small footprint and mobile devices in a retail or hospitality environment such as mobile POS terminals, RFID scanners, mini- or portable kiosks, etc. Windows CE is also a good choice for retail POS peripherals such signature capture devices.

When considering Windows CE for use on full-featured POS terminals, there are a number considerations that should be taken into account: lack of support for the UPOS standard requiring customized drivers to support most retail peripherals, a smaller number of drivers available for standard PC peripherals and devices, limited support for Win32 and .NET Framework applications, lack of support for Windows Update or Software Update Services (SUS), and the availability of only limited versions of Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.

What does Microsoft recommend as the OS for POS devices?

As the operating system platform that has been optimized for use on POS devices—providing Plug and Play support for retail peripherals, automatic device enumeration and instantiation, support for PC management technologies, a minimized operating system footprint, and a single installation disk that can be used for multiple device types and configurations—Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the recommended OS for these systems.

Which operating system platforms provide Plug and Play functionality for retail peripherals?

Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the only operating system platform to provide Plug and Play functionality for retail peripherals such as cash drawers, scanners, POS keyboards, and receipt printers. This feature provides retailers with the ability to choose the peripherals that are right for their systems, update peripherals more easily, and decrease system support costs through streamlined integration.

How are Windows Embedded operating systems licensed?

Retailers can license Windows Embedded operating systems from Windows Embedded OEM partners. These can be preinstalled on POS device hardware, or as an upgrade to existing POS hardware. A list of partners providing POS solutions based on Windows Embedded is available here.

For OEMs that are interested in acquiring Windows Embedded development toolkits and runtime licenses, click here for a list of Microsoft Authorized Embedded Distributors.

How are security updates deployed and installed on Windows Embedded for Point of Service?

Windows Embedded for Point of Service is supported by Windows Update making relevant security updates available at the same time as those for Windows XP Professional. As a result, a Windows Embedded for Point of Service device can quickly identify required updates and download them for installation either immediately or at a scheduled interval.

Windows Embedded for Point of Service also supports patch management technologies including Microsoft Systems Management Server, Microsoft Software Update Services, Device Update Agent, and third party management solutions.

Is POS for .NET functionality available for all Windows Embedded operating systems?

No. The POS for .NET implementation reference is available only on Windows Embedded for Point of Service.

Can I use Windows Embedded for Point of Service on both my POS systems and my office PCs?

Windows Embedded for Point of Service is an embedded operating system and is licensed for use on devices that perform only POS functions. Windows Embedded for Point of Service is not licensed for use on personal computers used for office automation or other non-POS specific functionality. A Windows desktop operating system such as Windows XP Professional would be more appropriate for these systems.

Windows Platform Comparison Table

	Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2	Windows Embedded for Point of Service	Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 2	Windows CE 5.0
Overview	Operating system aimed at the desktop user and deployed in retail when a single OS platform is required for the office and the store	Retail-optimized operating system for POS devices that is secure and easy to manage, and offers retail device Plug and Play functionality	Embedded operating system aimed at upgrading installed POS devices and offering full configurability and advanced security and management features	Embedded operating system platform for smaller footprint or mobile POS systems
Device Examples	PC-POS system that also provides general purpose PC functionality (i.e., running Microsoft Office)	Point of sale terminal, information kiosk, self-checkout	Existing POS terminals that cannot support Windows Embedded for Point of Service	Small-footprint price checker, signature capture device, mobile inventory device
Hardware
RAM	Minimum 128 MB, 256 MB recommended	Minimum 64 MB, 128 MB recommended	Depends on configuration; typical is minimum 64 MB, 128 MB recommended	Depends on configuration: typical is minimum 16 MB, 32 MB recommended
Processor	Pentium III 400 MHz or better recommended	Pentium II 233 MHz or better recommended	Pentium II 233 MHz or better recommended	x86, MIPS, ARM, SH processors supported
Local Storage (Hard Drive)	Supports hard drive, RAM drive - third party	Supports RAM Drive, wear-leveling Flash disk, and hard drive; Minimum 280 MB	Supports RAM Drive, Flash disk, hard drive; size depends on configuration, can be as small as 20 MB	Supports Flash disk, RAM drive, and hard drive; size depends on configuration, can be as small as 300 KB
POS Peripheral Support	Unified POS: OPOS or JavaPOS	Unified POS: POS for .NET, OPOS, or JavaPOS	Unified POS: OPOS or JavaPOS	Few native, minimal OPOS
Peripheral support verification by Veritest	No	Yes	No	No
Application Model Support
.NET	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (.NET Compact Framework only)
Win32	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (limited subset of Win32 APIs supported)
Java	Third party JVM required	Third party JVM required	Third party JVM required	Third party JVM required
C/C++	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Visual Basic	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Application support verification by Veritest	No	Yes	No	No
Broadcast loading of terminals - Remote Boot	Requires third party tools	Yes	Yes	Yes
Management
Setup	Installation CD providing support for: Remote Installation Services (RIS) CD install Network install from floppy Remote boot Plug and Play device installation Networking configuration Unattended installation	Installation CD providing support for: Remote Installation Services (RIS) CD install Network install from floppy Remote boot Plug and Play device installation Networking configuration Unattended installation	Windows Embedded Studio – Target Designer toolkit	Windows CE Platform Builder toolkit
General systems management approach	Systems Management Server (SMS) or third party solutions	Systems Management Server (SMS) or third party solutions	Systems Management Server (SMS) or third party solutions	Systems Management Server (SMS) or third party solutions
Device Servicing	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Patch Management, Software Maintenance Utilities	Windows Update, Software Update Services (SUS), Systems Management Server (SMS), and third party solutions	Windows Update, Software Update Services (SUS), Systems Management Server (SMS), Device Update Agent (DUA) and third party solutions	Software Update Services (SUS), Systems Management Server (SMS), Device Update Agent (DUA) and third party solutions	Systems Management Server (SMS)
Diagnostic tools	Yes - Watson Technologies	Yes - Watson Technologies	Yes - Watson Technologies	Yes
Licensing
License Rights	General purpose computing device tasks, including POS functionality	Licensed for POS- specific functionality	Single-purpose computing device such as POS	Single-purpose computing device such as POS
Product Support Delivery	Delivered by POS system provider (OEM) or Microsoft	Delivered by POS system provider (OEM)	Delivered by POS system provider (OEM)	Delivered by POS system provider (OEM)
Key Features Comparison
Windows Media Player	Yes	Optional component	Available component	Available component
Direct X	Yes	Optional component	Available component	No; DirectDraw for Microsoft Windows CE supported
Internet Information Services (IIS)	Yes	Optional component	Available component	No
PnP support for retail peripherals	No	Yes	No	No
Language Support	Full Windows XP language packs supported	Multilingual User Interface (MUI) support for OS menu items and applications for 8 languages including Chinese (Simplified), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish	Full XP Pro MUI pack support as available component	Available component
Retail Device Enumeration and Instantiation	No	Yes	No	No
Help and Support Files for OS	Yes	No	Available component	Available component
Driver Support for Hardware Devices (Shipped with Win XPSP2	Yes	Optional component	Available component	Available component
Full Code Page and Input Device Support	Yes	Optional component	Available component	Available component
Support to Manage Computer Locally	Yes	Optional component	Available component	Available component
Management Client Support	Yes	Optional component	Available component	Available component
Internet Explorer	Yes	Yes	Available component	Available component

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