Hardware Recommendations

Single Workstation

	14" Color SVGA Monitor Thermal or Impact 40 Col. Receipt Printer (Com 1) Electronic Cash Drawer (Printer Interface)
	CCD or Laser Scanner
	Laser or Inkjet Report Printer (Lpt 2) If you must use an impact printer we recommend the Okidata 320 Turbo
	500Mhz or greater Intel Pentium or compatible CPU 64 MB RAM or more 8 GB Hard Drive or larger Two Parallel Ports (LPT1 & 2) Two Serial Ports (COM 1 & 2) Mouse (PS 2 or Bus) Modem (COM 2) 1.44 MB Floppy Drive Tape or other backup device Windows 9x, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000 CD ROM
Optional Recommended Items	128 MB RAM SCSI Hard Drive UPS (uninterruptable power source) Battery Backup Surge Protected Power Strip Eltron Blaster (Lpt 1)

2 to 3 Workstations - Back Office Setup Non-Dedicated File Server in the Back Office Used for running reports, updating bag status, printing statements, updating accounts receivable, word-processing, spreadsheets and all other office related needs.

500Mhz or greater Intel Pentium or compatible CPU 64 MB RAM or more 8 GB Hard Drive or larger One or Two Parallel Ports (LPT1 & 2) Two Serial Ports (COM 1 & 2) Mouse (PS 2 or Bus) Modem (COM 2) Fast Ethernet Adapter (3COM Combo Card) CAT5 Twisted Pair Cable Fast Ethernet Hub 1.44 MB Floppy Drive Tape or other backup device Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000 SVGA Color Monitor Laser or Inkjet Report Printer CCD or Laser Scanner CD ROM

Optional Recommended Items

128 MB RAM SCSI Hard Drive Battery Backup Surge Protected Power Strip

Front Counter POS Workstations

14" Color SVGA Monitor Thermal or Impact 40 Col. Receipt Printer (COM1) Electronic Cash Drawer (Printer Interface) CCD or Laser Scanner 500Mhz or greater Intel Pentium or compatible CPU 64 MB RAM or more 8 GB Hard Drive or larger One or Two Parallel Ports (LPT1 & 2) Two Serial Ports (COM 1 & 2) Mouse (PS 2 or Bus) Modem (COM 2) Ethernet Adapter (3COM Combo Card) 1.44 MB Floppy Drive Windows 95 or Windows Windows 9x, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000 CD ROM

Optional Recommended Items

128 MB RAM SCSI Hard Drive Battery Backup Surge Protected Power Strip Eltron Blaster (Lpt 1)

Network Setup Options A critical factor in the success of a local area network is the hardware. We recommend 3COM Fast Ethernet PCI network cards (around $100 to $200). It's important that network cable is of good quality and the connections are carefully crimped. 4+ networks should use a dedicated file server. This means the server cannot be used as a workstation but is dedicated to running all other workstations. With a non-dedicated file server you may slow down the other workstations, depending on the applications you use on the server. Twisted Pair cable runs from the service to a hub (around $100 for a 4 port hub). All other workstation connections then star off of the hub. Hubs can be purchased with four or more work station port connections.

Windows 9x or Windows NT / 2000? The biggest difference between Windows 9x and Windows NT Workstation / 2000 is the that 9x uses a combination of a 16 bit and a 32 bit based operating system. This allows Windows 95 to better accommodate older 16 bit Windows applications. Windows NT /2000 is a full 32 bit operating system that better utilizes the computer's CPU and allows a true multi-tasking environment. Older Windows applications run slower on Windows NT / 2000. Windows NT Workstation /2000 is more stable than Windows 9x and is more efficient at the multitasking required when using a non-dedicated file server. Windows NT Server / 2000 is a robust network operating system with comprehensive security and file sharing capabilities. Although Windows 9x and Windows NT Workstation / 2000 have networking built in, Windows NT Server 4.0 / 2000 is recommended if you need more than 10 workstations. Windows NT offers a more stable, secure and robust disk and network operating system than Windows 9x. You can connect Windows 9x workstations to an NT / 2000 server.

More Information about the Hardware: UBS offers one of two Starbase packages that include: MFM Cash Drawer Star TSP200 Thermal or SP212 Dot Matrix 40 Col. Receipt Printer POS Platform Cable to connect the cash drawer to the receipt printer A few key points about the POS Platform: The platform helps to organize your system into a clean looking POS workstation. The platform hides and protects cables from the monitor, keyboard, receipt printer and cash drawer. The platform give the keyboard a sturdy place to sit where it won't get knocked off. It eliminates the need to mount the cash drawer under the counter. Which Receipt Printer to Buy? Here are some considerations when deciding which type of receipt printer to buy: 1 Ply paper for the Star SP212 dot matrix printer is about 1.10 per roll. 2 Ply paper for the Star SP212 dot matrix printer is about 1.80 per roll. Thermal paper for the TSP200 printer is about 2.15 per roll. Ribbons for the dot matrix printer are about 5.85 each. The Star SP212 can be ordered with a serial or parallel interface and comes standard with a cash drawer peripheral port. The Star TSP200 comes standard with serial and parallel interfaces and comes standard with a cash drawer peripheral port. This gives you the flexibility to easily switch between ports although you will need a 9 to 9 pin or 9 to 25 pin null modem cable if you switch from a parallel to a serial port. (available from UBS). The SP212 and TSP200 have the same dimensions and both fit the POS Platform in the Starbase package. There are no ribbons or other parts to buy for the thermal printer. Although there are less moving parts in the thermal printer, we do not know the life span difference. There is a significant difference in the print speed where the SP212 prints 2.5 lines per second, the TSP200 thermal prints about 12 lines per second. The TSP200 thermal printer cannot print on two ply paper, but you can print two receipts in the same amount of time or less than an impact printer. Which Report Printer to Buy? UBS does not sell inkjet or laser report printers. Shop your local office and computer stores. We recommend an HP LaserJet or InkJet Printer, whichever fits your budget. A good DeskJet Professional Series InkJet Printer is about $300. An InkJet printer gives you color, costs more per page and is slower printing (pages per minute) than a laser. Laser printers offer a sharper resolution, are usually faster and better for high volume output. A good laser printer will start around $800. If you want a work-horse printer that will last for years, take a look at the HP LJ 6MP. If you are networking two or more terminals, consider a LaserJet with a built-in Ethernet card. This is a convenient way to connect the printer to your network without having it connected to any one PC. If you need to print larger two or three part form invoices for house account transactions we recommend an Okidata 320 Turbo (available from UBS). Barcode Scanners 49k barcodes appear on most APS film canisters, representing the DX code. All other 35mm film canisters use the standard UPC style barcode. We've found a special CCD scanner from Welch Allen that can programmed to read the 49k barcode (as well as all other barcodes). If you never plan to service APS film or you are not planning on using DX barcode numbers in PowerLab's DX code database you can get a less expensive CCD or laser barcode reader. Credit Card Verification & Mag Strip Readers Power Lab does not currently have a direct interface with any credit card verification software. However, you can run programs like IC Verify that you can easily switch over to from the invoice screen, enter the credit card number and verification then receive an approval back. These programs dial out through a modem in the PC. You may want to consider a magnetic strip reader to input the credit card information into the screen. Keyboards with magstrip readers built in are available from UBS. The disadvantage of credit card verification through your PC is the time it may take to receive an approval code back during slow response times. However, Windows 95 is a multi-tasking environment the would allow you to finish the transaction while the verification of funds is being done in the background. You can continue to use your external terminal for credit card verification. Credit card verification with IC Verify in a multi-user environment requires another PC connected to the network that acts communications server. Thermal Label Printers You do not need a thermal label printer if your bags have pre-printed and bar-coded ID numbers and you plan to stay with that bag format. The advantage of printing labels is the processing and tracking information printed on the label. You need a label printer if you would like bag labels to print as soon as the service is dropped off. UBS offers the Barcode Blaster and the Eltron thermal label printers. The Barcode Blaster is faster and rated for higher volume. The Eltron is a less expensive alternative.