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- Newsgroups: comp.sys.ti
- Path: sparky!uunet!utcsri!skule.ecf!torn!newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!newshub.ariel.yorku.ca!cs902117
- From: cs902117@ariel.yorku.ca (TONY D'ALFONSO)
- Subject: Sophisticated Peripherals
- Message-ID: <1992Aug21.003525.23632@newshub.ariel.yorku.ca>
- Sender: news@newshub.ariel.yorku.ca (USENET News System)
- Organization: York University, Toronto, Canada
- References: <Bt6MHx.6HB@accelr8.com> <dennis.714183990@citr.uq.oz.au> <1992Aug21.001608.23440@newshub.ariel.yorku.ca>
- Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 00:35:25 GMT
- Lines: 30
-
-
- Joseph, you mention NOT upgrading to more sophisticated peripherals? Why not?
- I can see your point in the way a company I am working for (Brewers Retail,
- a company that retails beer for all breweries. I work in the TIPS/Technical
- Service department). The technology of the cash registers was state of the art
- - in 1983. They won't upgrade it as the attitude is "if it ain't broke, don't
- fix it." and because upgrading would cost money. The registers do a fine job
- (Sweda registers with a Z80 processor and hard drive to run inventory and
- balancing programs) but it has become a hassle to worry about the old machines.
- We poll them every morning for the previous day's data (at 1200 baud) and
- work with the data with newer, sophisticated machines at the head office (I
- have a 386 that is really used as a terminal for the network being run on a
- Sun Sparc station). The way I see it, they should dump those old registers
- and terminals and put in computer systems with menu options that are directly
- compatible with the systems at the head office (the registers are running
- Turbo DOS). Why? Because the newer technology is more practical and more
- powerful (the registers' CPU has 128k vs say a 486 with touch screens and at
- least a meg memory... Which would you pick?) They are thinking of changing
- it, yet they still want to stick with ancient machines.
-
- As a user, I can see the choice being between the 9 pin and 24 pin printers.
- It would be cost and technology on a balance. Older technology is not as
- good as the newer, but it is cheaper. The way I see it, (almost have to agree
- with the company now!) is if it can do the job, then why change it! (Ok, so
- I agree with you... Now where's the basis of my argument? My brain is
- fried and this message is making it worse.... )
-
- ____
- / o n y.
-
-