Has anyone else noticed that they use Palm devices in the apple store?

Apparently REAL work is done on palm, and not the ipod touch / iphone.

 

what do you mean-real work?

 

I think, he means REAL hard(ware) work done by palm.

 

Are you talking about the small portable devices the guys have for when you pay with a card and then they print out the receipt?

 

yeah. they are palm based. i just think its weird that they buy and use these in huge numbers across their retail stores.

 

It would be weird if apple made a lot of POS stuff, but they don't make anything like that. So no I don't think its that weird. Its a bit like saying is it weird that the apple store uses HP printers, or canon camera's.
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^^ What he said.

If Apple had their own POS hardware, do you honestly think they would use something else?

The OP comment seems just to get people riled up.......nothing more.

 

are they Palm? I don't know I am asking, they are PocketPCs right, does Palm make them?

yeah apple has never been in the the business of handheld POS have they? they have developed their own software, or had someone develop it for them. It is kind of unfortunate because while the handheld system is great, the OS X POS system is way more efficient and quick. It seems to mainly be a culprit of the handheld devices themselves, they are kind of old and are definitely slow.

it seems like an iPhone or iPod touch POS system would be possible, but it would take quite a bit of R&D and trial runs. It would certainly be a much much faster network connection that is for sure, plus just more functionality and quicker ways to input information. but in truth, the iPhone was not developed to do that either, but I suppose the PocketPCs weren't developed to do that either. but that is something Apple Retail obviously isn't that afraid of, there are constantly changes in the way the stores work day to day.

 

Well, at least they're using OS X to drive those big iPhones:

 

hey that is probably more of an actual Hardware problem than anything to do with the OS, the poor little mini that is likely under the display is probably just overheating due to improper setup and lack of air.

computers gotta breath!

 

I thought there were reports about these portable cashier devices during the iPhone launches. They kind of carried over from AT&T and were popularized during the iPhone launch to try to reduce lineups. They are PocketPCs running Windows Mobile. Ironic yes and frustrating since they constantly crash and have a complicated restart process which means Apple keeps a significant number of them on hand as extras. I think Apple would like to use the iPhone, but it needs a bar code scanner. I guess the camera isn't good enough, ironic again, and they just don't want to bother designing a custom peripheral right now.

 

It certainly makes more sense for Apple to be using portable POS systems that are Palm OS based rather than Windows Mobile, YUCK. Now that would cause a stir.

 

i just thought it was mildly ironic. not trying to cause anyone to flip.

 

well they are, and it really hasn't.

they are PocketPCs and are based on Windows Mobile, although the software is custom obviously for each particular situation.

and for the record they have been in use well before any iPhone was released.

 

never said they weren't in use before the iphone.

but NOW that they have a competing product, kind of, is it totally normal for them to be using windows or palm devices in the apple store?

 

someone else did. and no it isn't normal, I hope they are working on something.

 

It is normal for any businesses using any tools available to make the running smoother, more efficient and good customers support/sale.

As a poster above pointed out, Apple is not in the business of making point of sale apps. But if anyone else is smart enough to develop a good one that runs on Apple hardware, she/he would just hit a goal mine.

cheers ...

 

Doesnt Apple own part of Palm? I thought this was the case.

Also doesnt microsoft use macs to make their tv commercials (and probably use macs to run their servers too, lol).

My point is every or most companies use other company products to run their business.