IBM Corp yesterday heralded a new generation of its point-of-sale systems with the launch of the 4690 family. The 4693 point of sale terminals are based on Micro Channel architecture, run OS/2 or PC-DOS for those that don’t want the new 4690 Operating System, and are compatible with the current 4683 terminal and 4684 controller and terminal, extending PS/2 architecture at the POS terminal with standard Micro Channel adaptors, input-output ports, processors and files. The 4694 is an AT bus alternative running PC-DOS only. There is a new 4690 Operating System, based on release 2.32 of Novell Inc’s FlexOS, the operating system for embedded applications that Novell picked up with its Digital Research Inc acquisition. It adds Token-Ring for Terminal-to-Controller Communications support, support for direct attached auxiliary console, and energy saving features, with modular pricing so that customers pay only for the functions they use. Enhancements to the Supermarket and General Sales Applications add functions such as Electronic Journaling in Supermarket and Full-Screen support in General Sales. A new Retail Application/DOS is offered for smaller stores that want a complete automation system: it includes sales support and back room applications such as inventory management, electronic mail and time and attendance. The 4693 terminals can take anything from 80386SX to 486SLC2 processors, Super Video Graphics adaptor, optional Personal Computer Memory Card International Association adaptor support and up to 16Mb memory in the terminal. There is also a new IBM AIX Cashier Security and Productivity Assistant/6000 Release 2 application that analyses point-of-sale data from the 4683 or 4693 terminals on an RS/6000. The new 4690 OS Version 1, like its predecessor, based on FlexOS, will have the capacity to run terminal, controller, and in-store processor applications, supporting the current 4680 sales applications and new applications developed using either the current 4680 Basic API, 4680 Cobol, or the 4680 C API. FlexOS 2.32 supports 80386 mode on 80386 and 80486 processors, in addition to 80286 mode, offers improved quality, an improved console system, and an improved pipe system. Limited ships are planned for September with full availability in March. The new terminals ship in September, and a 4693 base unit costs $2,545 and a 4694 system unit is $1,500.
