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NOTICE: This page has moved.
Point of Sale for Mac OS X
The quest began in February, 2004. A friend is starting a retail store
and needs a POS solution. I have limited experience with POS. I built
a POS solution for a client many years ago on Mac OS 7. The world has
changed.
A POS solution has to be, above all other things, secure. This meant
not using a Microsoft OS. Please don't argue with me about this, save
your breath. I used to work for a Microsoft Development Partner.
I have two CD's in my drawer. With one or the other, I can root any Microsoft
OS up to Win 2004, in under 2 minutes. If the OS layer is that insecure,
the application
layer cannot be trusted either. We'll be processing credit card transactions
online so we have to trust the OS. We'll give Microsoft's "Secure
Trustworthy Initiative" a few more years to bear fruit. Until then,
it's just not an option.
I am a systems engineer by trade. I design
and build computing systems, typically for internet server applications.
That means I'm intimate with Unix and Unix-like operating systems.
My experience is mostly with BSD-like Unix so I'm already very familiar
with the underpinnings of Mac OS X. It's been my desktop OS since it's
initial
release. In four years of use, it's proven to be extremely reliable,
secure, and a true joy to use.
With those things in mind, I set out to find a POS solution either on
Mac OS X, FreeBSD, or Linux, with preferences in that order. Being
an astute web citizen, I asked my consultant
Google what was available. After a bit of searching I found there isn't
much available for Unix but I did find Larry's excellent Macintosh
Point of Sale page. However, what I didn't find there, or anywhere
else, was anything that resembled a product comparison.
So, I began collecting information and compiling my own product comparison
spreadsheet. I searched the web, downloaded demo software, made phone
calls, got CD's shipped to me, and learned an awful lot about Point of
Sale. Hopefully what I have acquired will be of benefit to others. If
you have updates to this information, send
me an email with the updated info and a URL where I can verify it.
If you have further questions or would like to post additional comments
regarding this information, please stop by the Macintosh Point of Sale Discussion Forums.
Mac OS X Point of Sale Product Comparison Chart |
| Product |
Mac POS X |
PayGo POS |
Platipus Pro Gold |
POS•IM |
POS/OE |
Shopkeeper |
Sixth POS |
XpertMart |
| Price |
$299 |
$1,199 |
$899 |
$1,895 |
$5,000 |
$695 |
$595 |
$1,299 |
| Multi-User |
$599 |
$1,699 |
$3,500 |
$2,995 |
|
$1,395 |
$1,295 |
|
| OS X |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Due 4/14/04 |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Credit Card |
AuthPay(3) |
AuthPay(3)
due 4/1/04 |
$100 module
AuthPay(3) or Authorize.net
|
NowCharge (Authorize.net) |
$750 module |
AuthPay(3)
eAuthorize(4)
sk-Authorize(5) |
No |
XpertVerify $200 |
| Accounting Exports |
MYOB (beta) |
No MYOB (yet)
|
$50 module |
Yes |
|
MYOB, Quickbooks, MultiLedger |
Claimed |
None |
| Supported Hardware |
| Receipt Printer |
Star SP-212FC $349 |
Star TSP 6/700 |
$595 |
Star TSP600 |
Yes (2) |
Star TSP6/7/800 (USB or serial), SP3/500 |
(7) Star SP212FD
TSP6/700
TCP/IP |
Epson TMU200
TMT 88III
Samsung SRP-350 |
| Cash Drawer |
EP-125KL $140 |
MMF |
$300 |
APG |
Yes (2) |
APG Vesario ($200)
or anything that works with Star Printer |
MMF |
MMF |
| Card Swipe Reader |
|
IDTech |
$200 |
Logic Control
Magstrip IDTech USB |
Yes (2) |
Any USB (IDTech recommended), MagTek) |
No |
MagTek Mini USB |
| Bar Code Reader |
Unitech MS210 CCD $229
HHP 3800i $575 |
HHP 3800 |
$565 |
HHP 3800 |
Yes (2) |
Z-3080 $152
HHP 3800 $395 |
(7) |
HHP 3800
Voyager MS9520
CCD Front 840
Symbol Cobra LS1902 |
| Bar Code Printer |
|
Cognitive Blaster Adv
Dynamo |
$595 |
Zebra DT 2" |
|
Dymo LabelWriter
Avery Labels |
(7) |
Zebra TLP 2844 |
| Pole Display |
|
|
|
Logic Control USB |
|
Serial only!
ID Tech Series 1800
Logic Controls PD3200D |
Yes |
Logic Control USB |
| Other Hardware |
Keyspan USB |
|
|
|
|
KeySpan required for Pole Display |
Keyspan USB |
Yes |
| Support |
quick email response |
1 year upgrades |
|
$838/yr |
1 yr included |
90 days free
$125/yr (single user) |
Online, email, phone |
$600/yr, quick email response, online manual |
| Customization Available? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Bar Code Generation |
|
|
$1,000 module |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Inventory Management |
| Tiered pricing |
|
|
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
| Multiple Vendors for items |
|
|
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
| Client Management |
| Gift Cards |
|
|
|
|
|
Yes |
|
No |
| Customer Loyalty |
|
|
$250 module |
|
|
Yes |
|
No |
| Zip lookup (auto fill City, state) |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
No |
|
No (planned) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Employee Management |
| Time Cards |
|
|
$100 module |
|
|
Yes |
Optional |
Yes |
| Permissions Levels |
|
|
|
|
|
10 levels |
Yes |
Unlimited |
| Commissions |
|
|
|
|
|
Yes |
|
|
| Technical Details |
| Language |
|
FMPro |
FMPro |
|
|
FMPro |
|
Java |
| Database Engine |
|
FileMaker |
FileMaker |
Proprietary |
|
FileMaker |
4D |
Any ODBC |
| Company / Product Info |
| Target Business Type(s) |
|
|
|
|
|
Retail, Mail Order, Service & Repair, Web Sales,
Film Processing, Garden Centers |
Restaurants, Retail, Apparel |
Apparel, Retail |
| Installed Base |
|
|
|
5-10,000 |
|
thousands |
|
500-1000 |
| Web Store |
|
|
module (included w/Gold) |
|
|
Yes |
|
Built In |
| Phone |
780-460-4238 |
|
|
801-546-1616 |
|
800-622-7670 x13 |
866-460-4238 |
617-233-5919 |
| Bundle Cost |
$995 |
|
|
$3,481 |
$7,450 |
See POSdirect web site |
|
$2,500 (6) |
1. Only has support via MacAuthorize which is no longer sold.
2. package deal for $1,700
3. Authpay $599 - (Concord ESF.net) - see other mentions below
4. eAuthorize - $250 - (Authorize.net, Verisign)
5. sk-Authorize - PlugnPay (Visanet/Vital - FDMS (Nashville) - First of Omaha
- Nova - Global /NDC - Paymentech)
6. Bundle includes: Star TSP 613U, MMF Cash drawer, Magtek Card Reader, HHP 3800i
Scanner, Logic Control Pole Display, 50 rolls paper
7. No support for USB peripherals
Subjective Comparison and Other
Mentions
|
Product
|
General Impressions
|
Email Responsiveness
|
Peripheral Support |
| Mac POS (X) |
|
Quick |
|
| PayGo POS |
|
Quick, a bit trite |
|
| PIMS |
707-525-3728, OS 9 only. Readme included in demo claims an OS X
version is coming "soon". Written in 4D (i think), Needs an interface
overhaul |
|
|
| MacBusiness |
Very sparse, FileMaker Pro based. ($350/$525) No inventory control,
no security. If your needs are extremely modest, it might work. If
you're looking for
a complete
POS solution, keep looking. |
|
|
| XpertMart |
Wow, very comprehensive. It's
priced very competitively when compared to other solutions with comparable
feature sets. The interface has some quirks and it's not terribly
intuitive. |
Quick, informative, helpful |
USB all the way! |
| POS Web Ware |
Useful only for a small cafe or bar |
|
|
| 360 Commerce |
Not for small stores. Written in Java. Used by the Apple Store
retail outlets. Because I'm looking a one store solution, the conversation
with them
ended
pretty quickly. |
|
|
| Sixth Sense POS |
Now that they support USB peripherals, I'll need to evaluate again. |
|
|
| Shopkeeper |
Designed to be a POS app and integrate with an accounting program.
Support for multiple credit card processors. Sold through POSdirect.com.
Talk to Tracy (x13), she's VERY helpful. |
|
|
| AuthPay X |
Very nifty software. Fully AppleScriptable. Expensive at $600.
I downloaded the Demo, swiped a credit card through my MiniMag USB
card reader and it authorized the card. It then printed out two credit
cad receipts (cardholder & merchant) on my Star TSP 643U printer.
Very cool. :) Uses Concord EFS.net as processor. |
|
Star TSP6/700
IDTech Easy Mag or MiniMag |
| Plug'n Pay |
Holy cow, they support a lot of Networks! Very cool, having a variety
of card processors to choose from is a good thing. |
|
|
Mac OS Point Of Sale (POS) Equipment & Vendors |
| Vendor |
Software |
Receipt Printers |
Cash Drawer |
Bar Code Scanners |
Card Readers |
Other Hardware |
| Sixth Sense POS |
Sixth Sense POS |
Star SP212FC: $380
Star TSP613D: $$290
613D w/cutter: $306
Star TSP743: $416 (w/cutter) |
MMF Econoline II $140
MMF Val-u-line $90
MMF MediaPlus 16" $150
MMF MediaPlus 18" $155 |
Voyager 9450 $230
VoyagerPDF 9544 $250
MS6720 $420 |
VersaMag $115
ID Tech MiniMag: $81
|
|
| Gestaf Faire |
|
|
EP-125K $249
SP-103 $189 |
Z-3080 $197
Zebex Alpha-70 $249 |
|
|
| International Point Of Sale |
Cash Register Express |
(Epson, Citizen, Ithica)
Star TSP 613U $297
Star TSP 643U $313 |
MMF Econoline $133 |
Voyager MS9540 $179
Voyager MS6720 $297 |
|
Logic Controls PD3000-USB Pole Display $199 |
| XpertMart |
XpertMart POS |
Epson TMU200 $340
Epson TMT 88III $410
Samsung SRP-350 $390 |
MMF |
HHP 3800 $300
Voyager 9520 $240
CCD Front 840 $190
Cobra LS1902 $260 |
MagTek Mini $85 |
|
| TrollTouch |
|
|
|
|
|
touchSTAR2 17" iMac touch screen $879 |
| POSDirect |
ShopKeeper•FMP |
|
|
|
|
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1. Voyager scanners are made by Metrologic
2.
Merchant Comparison Spreadsheet
Last modified on 1/29/07.
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