4 ms·

What I really don't understand is why commercial stations (like burger king's, ice cream stands etc...) uses windows when all those computers do is show either

What I really don't understand is why commercial stations (like burger king's, ice cream stands etc...) uses windows when all those computers do is show either videos or static images

maximus1983 7y ago
It will be either one of these or a combination of these. * Windows has been approved by management to be the only OS allowed on the computer network * The software for showing the static images / videos and whatever manages it will have been written on Windows or even DOS * The manufacturer of said machines whoever wrote their software was Windows Developer and it is cheaper just to ship a copy of Windows Embedded then to rewrite the software , QA and integrate it. I have a piece of software that I get small support contracts for. I tell clients it is Windows only. There is nothing stopping me from deploying to Linux or even one of the BSDs (I think). I just can't be bothered to deal with differences in distros, going through a QA process etc when it won't really get me many more sales.
klingonopera 7y ago
I'm guessing here: The guys installing those arguably very simple IT-systems mostly couldn't bother with Linux. Add to that, (at least here in Germany) BK is a franchise that sells licenses to franchise operators, so I doubt they have strict requirements on the actual IT setup, just the pictures they need to display. So you have very normal, run-off-the-mill managers and IT services, the former unable to grasp that Windows 10 with constant updates and fuck-ups will constantly require the services of the IT guys, and the latter naturally profiting of that. The increased margin of not using Windows wouldn't be enough to compensate that, and an increased price for a Linux package is something very difficult to convince those managers of. And then also IT-people well versed in Linux usually have clients who pay substantially more than simply outfitting non-IT businesses with IT-equipment.
arjunbajaj 7y ago
I've seen Burger King use Linux on their displays in India...
gridlockd 7y ago
The correct question is: Why should they use Linux? Historically, Linux struggled to display video. The companies that make that stuff started out with Windows, they have built a workflow to manage these devices on top of Windows, why switch now? It's not cost effective.
- gchamonlive 7y ago
  each windows distribution in theory needs a license. I don't know how big companies like Burger King handles those bulk licenses, but linux would be a lot more cost effective in this department
zeusk 7y ago
Might not answer you exact question, but I interned with the display team in Windows - they had loads of weird asks for interesting display topologies (and adapter modes) to be supported for media displays. I'm pretty sure I've never seen anything like that on LKML.
- gchamonlive 7y ago
  That is something that puts Linux off. Linux doesn't handle esoteric topologies very well without some complex xrandr instructions
dkns 7y ago
My guess would be that it's easier to get tech support for windows than linux.

What I really don't understand is why commercial stations (like burger king's, ice cream stands etc...) uses windows when all those computers do is show either videos or static images

maximus1983 7y ago

It will be either one of these or a combination of these. * Windows has been approved by management to be the only OS allowed on the computer network * The software for showing the static images / videos and whatever manages it will have been written on Windows or even DOS * The manufacturer of said machines whoever wrote their software was Windows Developer and it is cheaper just to ship a copy of Windows Embedded then to rewrite the software , QA and integrate it. I have a piece of software that I get small support contracts for. I tell clients it is Windows only. There is nothing stopping me from deploying to Linux or even one of the BSDs (I think). I just can't be bothered to deal with differences in distros, going through a QA process etc when it won't really get me many more sales.

klingonopera 7y ago

I'm guessing here: The guys installing those arguably very simple IT-systems mostly couldn't bother with Linux. Add to that, (at least here in Germany) BK is a franchise that sells licenses to franchise operators, so I doubt they have strict requirements on the actual IT setup, just the pictures they need to display. So you have very normal, run-off-the-mill managers and IT services, the former unable to grasp that Windows 10 with constant updates and fuck-ups will constantly require the services of the IT guys, and the latter naturally profiting of that. The increased margin of not using Windows wouldn't be enough to compensate that, and an increased price for a Linux package is something very difficult to convince those managers of. And then also IT-people well versed in Linux usually have clients who pay substantially more than simply outfitting non-IT businesses with IT-equipment.

arjunbajaj 7y ago

I've seen Burger King use Linux on their displays in India...

gridlockd 7y ago

The correct question is: Why should they use Linux? Historically, Linux struggled to display video. The companies that make that stuff started out with Windows, they have built a workflow to manage these devices on top of Windows, why switch now? It's not cost effective.

gchamonlive 7y ago
each windows distribution in theory needs a license. I don't know how big companies like Burger King handles those bulk licenses, but linux would be a lot more cost effective in this department

zeusk 7y ago

Might not answer you exact question, but I interned with the display team in Windows - they had loads of weird asks for interesting display topologies (and adapter modes) to be supported for media displays. I'm pretty sure I've never seen anything like that on LKML.

gchamonlive 7y ago
That is something that puts Linux off. Linux doesn't handle esoteric topologies very well without some complex xrandr instructions

dkns 7y ago

My guess would be that it's easier to get tech support for windows than linux.