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Windows POS in an Apple store

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2002.11.24

Today Charlie and I wandered into a Apple shop just off of Bay Street. There was the usual collection of semi-religious posters on the wall and expensive crud in boxes everywhere, but what really caught my eye was the dingy 14" monitor at the counter. Their point of sale software was running on Windows '98. I couldn't help but wonder if this was because:

  1. developing an Apple-based system would be too expensive

  2. dedicating an Apple box to the point of sale counter would be too expensive

  3. finding someone who could code for any of the Apple platforms was difficult

  4. knowing which platform to develop for was hard

  5. all of the above

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering