The soul of an iPod vending machine

Actually there is POS software for the Mac, I've seen it a few times on classic-based machines.

Apple Blows and dispontainous,

First of all, you should get your facts straight before you proclaim to know what you're talking about.

Apple, a company that in 1997 reported over $1.2 billion in cash and $3.4 billion in current assets didn't need another $0.15 billion investment from Microsoft in order to survive.

Emails released in the recent Iowa suit against Microsoft from June 27, 1997 show that MS was interested in two things centered around Office 98 for the Mac:
• "Realistically, when do we think we would ship this product?"
• "Can we avoid Apple knowing how far along we are for the next 30 days?"

MS never had any intentions of killing Office for the Mac (which was very profitable), but instead wanted to use the threat of cancelation as leverage against Apple. The investment was simple a show of good faith, but one that was insincere because MS had already established a Mac Business Unit that had almost finished Office 98. Keeping that info from Apple and buying some stock was just a ploy to use in other Apple negotiations at the time.

MS is the kind of friend that shakes your hand and stabs you in the back. Don't forget, MS is a convicted monopolist, paying billions in fines and losing billions in failed enterprises every year.

Last year alone, MS reported losses (in Billions) for the following:
MSN - 77
Home & Entertainment - 1,262
Other - 5,026

I could go on and on about the wrongs that have been done at the hands of MS, starting with Netscape, but you're obviously not interested in the facts.

One more thing, Macs actually have the most software available for them because Intel Macs can run Windows in addition to the superior OSX. However, your commodity PC can't run OSX or any of the industry-leading software created ONLY for a Mac (iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, iDVD, Final Cut Pro, Shake Motion, Logic, Aperature, etc).

No kidding Michael, what's with all these trolls? Why do they even bother reading an Apple blog if they don't like Macs? I don't waste time bashing crappy PCs that they can only claim to be better by the amount of available software. BTW, that isn't a problem for a Mac fanboy. There isn't anything I can't find a way to do better (with a hint of real logic) on my Mac. I actually one day took time to learn instead of being ignorant and arrogant.

That aside, we have one of the most easily customizable POS systems there is in our all Mac office - FileMaker. I'm sure you'll bash that too since you probably never used it and you don't have to be a software engineer to use it.

The thing that is ironic is that Apple does use Windows to sell OS X, iPods, and tons of other stuff. Have you been in an Apple Store lately? Those little handheld credit card scanners they keep trying to check everyone out with run windows!

Whoa whoa whoa ChooseandWatch Mitja, slow and buggy? I'll let a lot of MacOSX bashing go and write it off to jealousy, but slow and buggy? I am forced to use Microcrap every day and talk about slow and buggy! I jump on the MacBookPro and get about 300% more done in 1/3 of the time. Winblows has a market share only because of moron like you haven't taken the time to realize how dumb your OS is.

It is sp2,the flash bar is blue.Sp1 and before is green.So many people don't know what they think they do!

In this case, POS = point of sale.

When you want a system that's dependable and reliable, use a Windows machine. When you want a fanboi, slow and buggy POS system use Mac OS X.

NOOOOO... Say it isn't so

Well in my opinion. Windows can kiss my left...(you get the idea)

Secondly and more importantly. You really wouldn't even need a Mac mini to manage something like that. Hell, you could take an iPod and maybe somehow get an OS installed on it. Something basic to run something like a vending machine certainly couldn't cost all that much nor would the code take up that much space.

Factor in the times that a vending machine has stolen your money, plus the cost to send a repair guy out there to service it, parts and labor, and all that. You could have just bought your company another iPod, drag and drop an image of some software, and plugged it in.

Just a thought.