Microsoft Corporation

May 2006

Applies to:
   Windows XP Professional
   Windows XP Embedded
   Windows Embedded for Point of Service
   Windows CE 5.0

Summary: This set of frequently asked questions is aimed at helping decide which Windows operating system is most appropriate for a retail or hospitality organization's point of service (POS) devices. (5 printed pages)

Contents

Introduction
Frequently Asked Questions
POS Operating Systems: Feature and Component Comparison

Introduction

Microsoft has a broad collection of operating system platforms that can be used in point of service (POS) devices that are typically deployed in retail and hospitality organizations. These can include point of sale terminals, information kiosks, self-checkout systems, price-checking terminals, fuel pumps, and ATMs. The purpose of this document is to help enterprises determine the best operating system platform to use on these devices.

Below is a list of frequently asked questions that may assist you in making a decision about which operating system is most appropriate for your POS devices. A table follows, representing a list of the features and components associated with each of the following Microsoft operating system options: Windows XP Professional, Windows Embedded for Point of Service, Windows XP Embedded, and Windows CE 5.0.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Windows Embedded for Point of Service the next version of Windows XP Embedded?

No. Windows Embedded for Point of Service is a new operating system that has been developed and optimized for use on POS devices such as self-checkout, information kiosks, and point of sale devices. Windows XP Embedded will continue to be licensed for use on fully customized embedded devices, and for use on POS systems with unique requirements not supported by Windows Embedded for Point of Service.

What are the key differences between Windows XP Professional and Windows Embedded for Point of Service?

Licensing differences—Windows XP Professional is licensed to support general-purpose PC applications that can include Office Automation software such as Microsoft Office. Windows Embedded for Point of Service is an embedded operating system that is licensed for use on dedicated devices that provide only POS functionality.

• Distribution differences—Windows Embedded for Point of Service is only available either preinstalled on POS devices from Microsoft OEM partners, or as an upgrade on existing POS devices. Windows XP Professional is available preinstalled on PCs or POS devices, as an upgrade to existing systems, through Microsoft Volume Licensing programs, or direct to the end user by means of retail sales channels.
• Functionality differences—While much of the functionality of Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the same as with Windows XP Professional, hardware requirements for Windows Embedded for Point of Service are lower than for Windows XP Professional. Additionally, Windows Embedded for Point of Service provides multilingual user interface (MUI) language support for eight core languages as part of setup, compared to the full language pack support provided by Windows XP Professional.

Can Windows CE be used on POS devices?

Yes. Windows CE is a good OS platform option for very small footprint and mobile devices in a retail or hospitality environment—for example, mobile POS terminals, RFID scanners, mini or portable kiosks, and so on. Windows CE is also a good choice for retail POS peripherals such signature capture devices.

When considering Windows CE for use on full-featured POS terminals, there are a number considerations that should be taken into account: lack of support for the UPOS standard, requiring customized drivers to support most retail peripherals; a smaller number of drivers available for standard PC peripherals and devices; limited support for Win32 and .NET Framework applications; lack of support for Windows Update or Software Update Services (SUS); and the availability of only limited versions of Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.

What does Microsoft recommend as the OS for POS devices?

As the operating system platform that has been optimized for use on POS devices—providing Plug and Play support for retail peripherals, automatic device enumeration and instantiation, support for PC management technologies, a minimized operating system footprint, and a single installation disk that can be used for multiple device types and configurations—Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the recommended OS for these systems.

Which operating system platforms provide Plug and Play functionality for retail peripherals?

Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the only operating system platform to provide Plug and Play functionality for retail peripherals such as cash drawers, scanners, POS keyboards, and receipt printers. This feature provides retailers with the ability to choose the peripherals that are right for their systems, update peripherals more easily, and decrease system support costs through streamlined integration.

How are Windows Embedded operating systems licensed?

Retailers can license Windows Embedded operating systems from Windows Embedded OEM partners. These can be preinstalled on POS device hardware, or as an upgrade to existing POS hardware. A list of partners providing POS solutions based on Windows Embedded is available at "Windows Embedded for Point of Service Partners."

For OEMs that are interested in acquiring Windows Embedded development toolkits and runtime licenses, visit "How to Buy Windows Embedded Operating Systems" for a list of Microsoft Authorized Embedded Distributors.

How are security updates deployed and installed on Windows Embedded for Point of Service?

Windows Embedded for Point of Service is supported by Windows Update, making relevant security updates available at the same time as those for Windows XP Professional. As a result, a Windows Embedded for Point of Service device can quickly identify required updates, and download them for installation either immediately or at a scheduled interval.

Windows Embedded for Point of Service also supports patch management technologies, including Microsoft Systems Management Server, Microsoft Software Update Services, Device Update Agent, and third-party management solutions.

Is POS for .NET functionality available for all Windows Embedded operating systems?

No. The POS for .NET implementation reference is available only on Windows Embedded for Point of Service.

Can I use Windows Embedded for Point of Service on both my POS systems and my office PCs?

Windows Embedded for Point of Service is an embedded operating system, and it is licensed for use on devices that perform only POS functions. Windows Embedded for Point of Service is not licensed for use on personal computers that are used for office automation or other non-POS-specific functionality. A Windows desktop operating system such as Windows XP Professional would be more appropriate for these systems.

POS Operating Systems: Feature and Component Comparison

For the purpose of quick comparison, Table 1 lists the features and components that are associated with the Windows XP Professional, Windows Embedded for Point of Service, Windows XP Embedded, and Windows CE 5.0 operating systems.

Table 1. POS operating system comparison matrix

Hardware

Application Model Support

Management

Licensing

Key Features Comparison