ATMs to run Windows

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2003-09-20 03:40pm

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0% ... %2C00.html

I'm not going to comment since I'm probably going to say something stupid.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2003-09-20 03:45pm

There's one on Chorley New Road in a petrol station that runs windows. We know this because we saw it had bluescreened when we went to use it. True story.

I've also seen the flight screen things at an airport all bluescreen.

Mitth`raw`nuruodo · Post by **Mitth`raw`nuruodo** » 2003-09-20 03:46pm

Only M$ ATMS? Will we see *nix ATMs? What about the iTeller-Machine? (which would come in red, blue, green, purple, and any other color that doesn't fit with any place it could be put)

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2003-09-20 04:08pm

I've seen kiosks bluescreen all the time.

Can anyone comment on the stability of Windows CE?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-09-20 04:23pm

Most ATMs used to run a varient of OS/2, though a lot of BofA ones appear to be using some varient of Windows.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-09-20 07:04pm

I thought most ATM's would have used a proprietary OS designed by the OS manufacturer. I'll pay more attention to my ATM next time I go. Im pretty sure it is not running Windows.

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2003-09-20 09:54pm

I've seen several with NT4.

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2003-09-20 11:59pm

Pu-239 wrote:I've seen kiosks bluescreen all the time.

Can anyone comment on the stability of Windows CE?

I can't say anything about the newest versions, but I know the older versions all had horrible memory leak problems. Though they usually didn't crash hard, eventually the amount of memory leaking out of the system would render it inoperable, requiring a reset.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-09-21 12:07am

*wonders if this means the ATMs will give him $100 while charging his account for $10*

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2003-09-21 12:14am

RogueIce wrote:*wonders if this means the ATMs will give him $100 while charging his account for $10*

Hehehe, that's a nice thought, but no. Chances are, it would give you no money, and charge you for the money you tried to withdraw.

greenmm · Post by **greenmm** » 2003-09-22 04:34pm

This has to be a joke... right?

I mean honestly:

1. You don't need a GUI look for an ATM. I mean, honestly: do they expect people to start surfing the web at the ATM? An ATM only requires limited uses to be available to its users, and a simple text menu attached to the function keys is all that's needed.

2. Even if you're planning for the future... think about the reliability. There's a reason why Windows-based machines are known for being unreliable. And I'm sorry, but I've gone too many times to current ATM's only to find them out of service (either because of lack of cash or because it actually crashed). If I find my bank switching to Windows-based ATM's, I may just decide to switch banks.

3. No Internet connection? So what? Do they really think that viruses are only spread over the Internet? When I worked at Qwest a few years back, we had a literal handful of individuals who, after receiving a virus from the Internet, spread it to the rest of the company through the corporate Intranet -- you know, the internal Qwest employees-only network that is not part of the Internet at large? Network multiple computers together, and 1 infected computer will infect the rest, even if the other computers never connect to the Internet, because of the LAN connections they have.

And what does an ATM need? A LAN/WAN connection to the bank to:
-- send deposit transactions in to the main database
-- send withdrawal transactions in to the main database
-- send account transfer transactions in to the main database
all of which involves connecting to the corporate intranet, and allowing for the possibility of a virus.

Even worse, if they do add in the functionality of purchasing tickets, what kind of tickets are they talking about? Movie tickets? You'll need an Internet connection to make sure that accurate seating numbers are kept to prevent overselling (some people take very poorly to paying money for standing-room-only at the local AMC multiplex). And even worse, consider concerts or other special events, where you have assigned seating, and it becomes critical to maintain up-to-the-minute updates on ticket sales to prevent the sale of the same seat to multiple individuals?

I think this is another instance of corporate leaders being blinded by the shiny buttons and bright lights of Technology, without thinking of all the potential repercussions of their decisions...

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-09-22 04:52pm

Many of the ATMs around here are quite a bit more sophisticated - they have touchscreens (as well as the usual keypad) and can memorize personal settings and such. I rarely see them out of order.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2003-09-22 06:57pm

Fuck. I do not need a bank machine with blinking flashing lights that tries to sell me on fucking Viagra while I wait withdraw my fucking cash from the fucking no good cocksucking machine. You do not fucking need fucking windows to fucking run a fucking bank fucking machine!

I've used enough machines that run on fucking windows, and I can tell you that using windows to run anything more complicated than an oven is asking for trouble.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2003-09-23 07:23am

greenmm wrote:There's a reason why Windows-based machines are known for being unreliable.

What version of windows are you talking about? Windows 95?

Heck, the early version of unix were horrible and unstable as hell.

Even windows 9x kernal line could be kept up almost 24/7 (and designed to periodically reset every x hour when its not in use).

The primary reason windows is unstable is crappy drivers.

Using an NT derivitive & good quality drivers, and have it set to reboot if the computer blue screens (however rare it would be) you wouldnt have any problems.

And the transaction system should be designed to handle complete failure on the end computer anyway. If not who ever designed & biult it are idiots.

Dooey Jo · Post by **Dooey Jo** » 2003-09-23 09:51am

The cash machines at our local "mall" uses Window 98. Me and my friend saw one bluescreened once. Some service-guys came and rebooted it and we saw the Windows 98 logo.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-09-23 09:55am

ggs wrote:Using an NT derivitive & good quality drivers, and have it set to reboot if the computer blue screens (however rare it would be) you wouldnt have any problems.

And the transaction system should be designed to handle complete failure on the end computer anyway. If not who ever designed & biult it are idiots.

I doubt that it'll use TCP/IP networking or have SMB/CIFS enabled at all. It'll probably run Windows CE or some other embedded Windows OS. If not, perhaps a customized version of NT or 2K.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2003-09-23 10:32pm

phongn wrote:
ggs wrote:Using an NT derivitive & good quality drivers, and have it set to reboot if the computer blue screens (however rare it would be) you wouldnt have any problems.

And the transaction system should be designed to handle complete failure on the end computer anyway. If not who ever designed & biult it are idiots.
I doubt that it'll use TCP/IP networking or have SMB/CIFS enabled at all. It'll probably run Windows CE or some other embedded Windows OS. If not, perhaps a customized version of NT or 2K.

There is always WinXP Embbed edition

I wouldnt be supprised if they actually did use TCP/IP for networking, but they I doubt they would have SMB/CIFS enabled.

Post by **Edi** » 2003-09-24 04:51am

aerius wrote:I've used enough machines that run on fucking windows, and I can tell you that using windows to run anything more complicated than an oven is asking for trouble.

Are you really going to trust Windows to run an oven for you? Burn down the house, it will...

Edi

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2003-09-24 10:23am

Edi wrote:Are you really going to trust Windows to run an oven for you? Burn down the house, it will...

Windows actually works quite well at running a $200,000 SMT reflow oven, no that's not a typo on the price. Then again that's because all it has to do is remember & display the temperature for each of the 14 oven zones and the speed of the conveyor belt.