[4 min read]

If so, have you considered the right terminal?

Not to be confused with the WFM, HRM or payroll solution, here we’re talking about the actual Terminal OS.
It’s an important question because if the terminal malfunctions or becomes redundant, then it doesn’t matter what back-office solution you’ve invested your evaluation time, money and hopes into; that’s going to be redundant too.

High level considerations when choosing your operating system.

Terminal OS details to look for are developer community support, reliability, licensing, accessibility, security etc. Both Linux and Windows offer extensive support for devices ranging from computers to embedded types and while the competition is fairly though, there are certain aspects to notice before making your long term strategic development plans.
One of the strongest points for using Linux is openness and reliability. That reliability is strongly supported by secure Linux kernel features, while the hardware components can also be customized and coupled together to suit different projects options.
Consider also that this reliability or robustness is critical considering your terminal may be operational 24/7/365. You are going to want a terminal that once switched on, it will stay on. No need for switching on/off every day. No rebooting or costly downtime.

Community support

This helps ensure further system reliability can be tested by various developers using alternative component variants. Any potential issues can be reported and resolved in advance of a major commercial release. This also results in less frequent updates and patches to ensure a stable and secure operating system.
When it comes to licensing; as Linux distributions are open source and essentially cost free then this license-free aspect is a major financial benefit to your bottom line.
The challenging aspects in Linux development can be to have a sufficient line code learning curve, less user-friendliness, and little possibility of premium support to resolve issues during the development period. Fortunately, all of these are covered by our development team.

Windows

Looking at Windows, the key advantages are an easier learning curve, the option for premium support (subject to their costs and fees) and potentially its user friendliness. That said, the operating system is built on default sets of components with limited customization options. So while the user friendliness and ease of use is initially a good attraction it does also come with the compromise of losing control over ensuring the stability and security of the Windows operating system.
You’ll need to also bear in mind that Windows faces challenges keeping the releases stable and without continuous updates or security patches meaning that these potential gaps may allow hackers to compromise the operating system until the required update or security patch has been released.

In conclusion

The above factors are only a few considerations before making long term decisions to use Linux or Windows as your chosen OS.
I have any questions and are unsure about the best solution for you
then feel free to contact us . Without obligation we are happy to share our experience (including terminals now with the option of new sobriety testing integration

Faheem Yousuf
Chief OS Engineer
Brightec Time