A touchscreen is a variant of a desktop computer. Touchscreens contain all the traditional features of a desktop computer, with the addition of a touchscreen monitor.
Touchscreens manage your point of sale and are the most important piece of hardware in a system.
What are the minimum requirements for a POS touchscreen?
The POS software you use will determine the minimum computer specifications you need. Typically, as a minimum, the recommendation is 4GB of RAM and a processor with at least 1.8GHz. As retailers there is a need for at least a 2.0 GHz processor for the server station if there are three or more stations in the same store (the server station is the POS station that houses your database and serves as the server for the other terminals).
Why do touch screen prices vary so much?
Prices can vary widely depending on processing power and, as with any POS technology, brand. If you find a computer at an extremely low price, check the specs and make sure it meets the minimum software requirements you are considering.
Another price factor is commercial quality versus consumer quality. POS systems are meant to be used in harsh environments. Have you ever seen a bartender placing an order while multiple guests are yelling at him? They're hardly being gentle with the touchscreen. While consumer-grade touchscreens are much cheaper, they can't stand up to the daily use of a point of sale.
What about monitors? Do I need a POS touchscreen or can I use a mouse?
You can use both, but your touchscreen works like a giant mouse by allowing you to point and click (i.e. touch). The biggest advantage of a POS touchscreen is that it allows for faster workflow and more efficient order entry.
POS software is specifically designed for the use with touchscreens - with large buttons that can be easily pressed. However, there are also software programs with small buttons and drop-down menus that would work better with a traditional mouse. The choice is yours!
There are different types of POS touch technology on the market, and if you've ever used a POS system, you may have noticed that the screen is different than the one on your iPhone. That's because POS systems typically use resistive technology, which means the screen is covered with a pressure-sensitive film. iPhones, on the other hand, respond to changes in electrical current rather than pressure, which is why you can't use your phone with gloves.
