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There are two primary types of printers, Impact and Thermal.
 Impact printers are Dot Matrix and are primarily used in kitchen and bar environments. They require a ribbon or cartridge and are generally noisier. This noise is often desired in these two environments as it serves to alert the kitchen or bar staff to the fact that an order has arrived. Kitchen prep, dishwashers, glass washers and other background noise often cause staff in these two areas to miss orders. In most cases Impact kitchen printers use a Purple/Red ribbon cartridge in order to allow food modifiers to print in red. Likewise Bar printers are in many cases set up similarly.
Thermal printers are most often used in the dining areas as they are quieter and are primarily used to generate guest cheques. They use heat sensitive paper, have fewer moving parts, and do not require ribbons or cartridges. They are seldom used in kitchens as were the paper to come in contact with heat sources, which abound in most kitchens, they become illegible. The more expensive paper is negated due to the fact that ribbons are not required. The newest generation Thermal Printers like the IBM Suremark are capable of printing in colour with high grade paper.
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Four types of HHT’s are currently recommended.
 Compaq, Casio, HP and Symbol, four of the recognized world leaders in Wireless POS Technologies in conjunction with Microsoft and Ameranth Technologies have partnered to bring ALOHA this cutting edge application. HHT’s most significant venue is out of doors on Patio’s, Dockside, Rooftop and other areas. Their lightweight and durability have evolved to now make these a viable option.
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Touchscreen Monitors are the most economical workstation selection and by necessity require an attached PC to power and control them. These are available in a variety of sizes and models. The Monitor must be located relatively close to the PC in a well-ventilated, dry area. Caution should be taken to prevent moisture from coming into contact with either the PC or Monitor.
These are used primarily in Quick Service or Drive-Thru environments often with an “ Expediter” and a combination of Wireless Headsets and specific software. A “Bump Bar” is used to move orders off screen or scroll through the queue and must be activated manually by the operator. Aloha also enables you to eliminate the “bump bar” if you choose and use a Touchscreen.
Careful consideration must be given to the location of these monitors as they are susceptible to the dangers of steam, smoke and grease. As with all monitors they must exhaust heat and at the same time be kept free of moisture. These are currently being used at Maxwell’s Plum in Halifax at both the Bar and Kitchen.
 These monitors are the newest on the market and are gaining wide acceptance. They are available in anywhere from 12.1” screens up to 21” screens and can be mounted in a variety of ways. As with kitchen monitors they must be protected from moisture and their heat properly vented. These are powered by an attached PC, which must be mounted or stored nearby again in a well-ventilated area, safe from moisture or spillage. Manufacturer warranties are currently only available for one year on these regardless of make or model.
IBM models offer a 12.1” screen with a very small footprint and are designed to withstand day-to-day punishment within a foodservice environment. There are currently 1.6 million Javelins installed worldwide, MacDonalds Restaurants International and Little Caesar’s Pizza have just selected them.
 IBM's newest release is their new SurePos 500, which has been designed to specifically withstand the harsh foodservice environment. This comes with IBM’s unparalleled service and support options.
Sharp 5300/5700 Durable self contained units that provide yet another option as an ALOHA platform.
Magnetic Card Readers “ Mag Card Readers” can be used as a staff entry key as well as a timecard for payroll functions. You have the option. They may also serve as a Gift Certificate when used with ALOHA’s Gift Certificate Manager software module or as a Frequent Buyer ID.
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Aloha has been designed to take advantage of “ Open Architecture” meaning the software requirements have been devised to take advantage of “off the shelf” hardware. This has been configured to allow for “ Plug and Play” components. The drivers for the most commonly available hardware devices have been built into the software.
This allows the end user the advantage of having the freedom to purchase non-proprietary hardware as well as permitting them to obtain hardware service from localized providers who may already be servicing their current PC’s.
The Aloha software itself has been devised to work with industry standard Win95, Win98, WinNT or 2000 depending upon the customer’s requirements and the size of the installation. This permits the customer to scale the Server requirements to their specific needs while at the same time allowing them to control the costs.
The use of both Win95 and Win98 would be most commonly used for sites with less than ten Workstations on the floor. Windows NT would be for larger sites or for those customers with multiple revenue centers or a desire for a very robust BackOffice. Companies such as Dell and Compaq are recognized to produce some of the best NT Servers available but as with all Aloha components a variety of other options are available as well. Windows 2000 is slowly being adapted as a Server platform as industry acceptance becomes more widespread.
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ALOHA has some of the most comprehensive BackOffice features of any POS vendor available. Aloha competitors such as Micros, Squirrel and Gamma/Maitre’d themselves are using many of it’s components. Aloha has designed these components in a modular format, which allows you to pick and choose only those components which are of benefit to your unique operation. These can be incorporated at time of purchase or at any later date.
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ALOHA Enterprise Office allows for Data Warehousing or customized polling via ALOHA’s own Server or a site specific customer developed one. Multiple operations or outlet’s can upload sales information, pricing and promotions via the Internet or take advantage of Intranet technologies.
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