| Low-cost POS polishes nettop core |
Oct. 16, 2008
 HP has built Intel's "nettop" technology into a new POS (point of sale) system for small- and medium-sized businesses. The "rp3000" includes a 1.6GHz Atom 230 processor, up to 2GB of RAM and 250GB of hard disk storage, and eight USB ports, the company says.
(Click here for a larger view of HP's rp3000)
HP's rp3000 incorporates processor and chipset technology associated with the low-cost PCs known as "nettops." For example, the POS system uses Intel's $29 Atom 230, plus the chipmaker's 82945GC northbridge and 82801GB (ICH7) southbridge.
That said, the rp3000 is clearly more than a generic mini-ITX nettop fitted with a cash register interface and MSR (magnetic stripe reader). For starters, at 15.2 x 9.7 x 3.3 inches (385 x 246 x 84mm), its case is larger, and has room for a 5.25-inch optical drive that is offered in either DVD-ROM or DVD+/RW versions.
The steel case apparently aids cooling, too. Rated by HP for operation up to 40 deg. C (104 deg. F). the rp3000 can serve the most air conditioning-challenged of small businesses.
The rp3000 comes standard with 512MB of DDR2 RAM, and is said to be upgradable to 2GB. For mass storage, it relies on a 7200rpm, 3.5-inch SATA hard disk drive, available in 160GB and 250GB capacities.
With no slots for removable media other than optical, the rp3000's internal expansion is limited to a half-length, full-height PCI card, or a low-profile x1 PCI Express card. On the hand, external expansion appears to be prodigious. For example, the device has eight USB 2.0 ports in all, one of which can supply 24VDC power to peripherals, and one of which can supply 12VDC.
HP's rp3000 accepts a bevy of accessories
Also featured are four serial ports (all capable of supplying power), two PS/2 ports, a gigabit Ethernet port with RJ45 connector, a VGA output, plus line-level audio I/O. Via this panoply of interfaces, the rp3000 can accept accessories (above) such as the following, according to HP:- A 15-inch touchscreen display
- Keyboard
- Barcode scanner
- Cash drawer
- Customer-facing "pole" display
- MSR
- Receipt printer
Features and specifications listed by HP for the rp3000 POS system include:- Processor -- 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 processor, with 512KB second-level cache
- Memory -- From 512MB to 2GB of DDR2 RAM
- Storage:
- Fixed -- 3.5-inch, 7200rpm HDD (hard disk drive), with 160GB or 250GB capacity
- Removable -- DVD-ROM or DVD+/RW optical disk drive
- Networking -- Gigabit Ethernet port with RJ45 connector
- Other I/O:
- 8 x USB 2.0 ports (1 supplies 12VDC power, 1 supplies 24VDC)
- 4 x RS232 ports (all powered)
- 2 x PS/2 ports
- 1 x VGA
- Line-in and line-out
- Expansion -- Full-length, half-height PCI slot, or low-profile PCI-E x1 slot (apparently cannot be used simultaneously)
- Dimensions -- 15.2 x 9.7 x 3.3 inches (385 x 246 x 84mm)
- Operating temperature -- 0 to 40 deg. C (0 to 104 deg. F)
- Weight -- 17.9 pounds (8.1kg)
HP says it supplies the rp3000 with Windows Vista Business, WEPOS (Windows Embedded for Point of Service), Windows XP Professional, or FreeDOS. The company's VARs (value added resellers) can reportedly install other operating systems on request, such as Linux.
According to HP, the rp3000 is available now, with prices starting at approximately $700.
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