The central component of a POS cash register is the computer than runs the application. Most resellers prefer to sell you a computer with the rest of the POS system, rather than having you supply your own – some even charge an extra fee if you supply the computer. The reason is that setup and ongoing support is much easier when the reseller is familiar with the hardware involved. Getting all the hardware from one source lets the reseller take responsibility for the entire system.

If you do want to buy the computers separately, make sure you coordinate the purchase with your reseller. If you get exact specifications from your POS reseller and follow them closely, you should be able to avoid most compatibility problems.

An average to low-end computer is usually enough to get the job done – a $500 to $800 computer should be enough to run a POS cash register. The computer does need to be upgradeable – some POS software requires newer operating systems, such as Windows XP – so do not try to re-use the old DOS-based machines you have lying around.

Power
Having "clean" electrical power is a POS cash register necessity that many businesses underestimate. When you set up multiple POS cash registers, they are networked together the same way computer systems in offices are. Fluctuations in the electrical supply due to blenders, meat slicers, microwaves, and other mechanical devices plugged into the same electrical circuit can easily cause enough noise in the power supply to wreak havoc with a POS cash register.

There are two common solutions to the problem. Power filtering can eliminate troublesome spikes and noise before they get to your computer terminals. The more robust solution is to install a dedicated circuit with an isolated ground and use it only for your POS cash registers and computers.

Power problems are one of the single biggest causes of problems in POS cash registers. Make sure your vendor analyzes your power situation and suggests appropriate safeguards.

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