
At least on POS machines
IBM has started installing a rapidly growing retail version of Windows in its computerized point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS) software is being installed in IBMs SurePOS machines, as well as its self-service checkout systems, and the interactive AnyPlace Kiosk product line.
However, the move is a step away from Linux-based software for such machines. IBM said that its POS terminals will also continue to be sold with a retail-oriented version of Novell SUSE Linux.
In a statement, IBM said it was not dropping its Linux focus. It said that it is operating system-agnostic in the POS market, where it supports a variety of software platforms, including DOS and various versions of Windows.