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A laptop may also be used to run the system. This has the immediate advantage of being able to continue working after a power failure. It also leads to a compact counter-top solution.
We would recommend a USB scanner and serial printer. A single line scanner should be able to run off the laptop's power supply. The receipt printer will require mains input, but it will be possible to continue working without receipts. The parallel or USB port can be used for connection to a report printer. A second display may be connected for customer use, mirroring the laptop's screen. This can also be achieved with a television screen with the appropriate connecting leads.
Some changes have been made to accommodate the limited keyboard of a laptop. In particular, the .n instead of *n for a multiplier avoids the use of the shift key. Some users have added a USB numeric keypad for convenience.
If your laptop lacks a serial port, you can experiment with a USB to serial converter.
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