Barcode Scanners: A Comparison of Serial, Keyboard Wedge, and USB Interfaces

(A 4 minute read…) There are various computer models that barcode scanners can be attached to, and it’s important to familiarize yourself with the physical connection types and communication protocols to determine which barcode scanner would be best for you. Serial/RS232 Interface RS232, commonly referred to as serial, is a communication protocol—not a physical connection….

Overview: Serial Barcode Scanner Interfaces

(A 3 minute read…) An Overview of Serial Barcode Scanner Interfaces Connector Options and Standards There are three fundamental ways of connecting your barcode scanner to a computer: serial, keyboard wedge, and USB. Even though a serial interface is the most complicated of the three to configure, it offers the greatest control and flexibility of…

Asset vs Inventory Management Systems, Part 2

Welcome back to Part 2 of this blog series on what you should know about purchasing asset and inventory management systems. Prior to investing in one of these systems, it is important to determine exactly which type you need. Keep in mind that assets are owned items of value, while inventory is the amount of…

Asset vs Inventory Management Systems, Part 1

If you’re considering purchasing an asset or inventory management system, there a few things you should be aware of when determining which one is right for you. First, let’s specify the difference between assets and inventory: An asset is an owned item of value. Inventory is the amount of materials on hand. Next, let’s look at how each of these…

9 Best Practices for Cloud Security

Businesses are steadily navigating to the cloud for enterprise computing. The access, scalability, and flexibility are commonly observed benefits. Learn more about enterprise cloud computing here. The 2015 State of the Cloud Survey reported that 93% of enterprises are adopting the cloud, with 88% saying they’re using a public cloud. The use of the public…

Using Thermal Printers to Perfect Tattoos

Thermal Printers for Tattoo Stenciling  When you hear the word “stenciling”, what comes to mind first? Tracing a pre-cut design by hand? How about creating tattoo templates? The idea of a permanent tattoo might seem frightening at first—but as you watch a tattoo artist work, the process becomes more and more fascinating. The skill and precision…

4 Common Types of Cash Drawers

L-Tron offers a variety of cash drawer options, and unless you’re the person responsible for purchasing one, you’ve probably never thought about how they work. We expect them to just open after entering a sale, right? So, how do you determine which one is right for you? The following is a very brief overview of…

3 IoT Security Tips To Help Your Business

We’ve been talking about the Internet of Things (IoT) for several years now. We’ve blogged about many related topics, including: What the IoT is Smart devices Industry impacts Cloud computing Concerns with IoT And last, but certainly not least… Security If you’ve been following the news over the past couple weeks, I’m sure you’ve seen…

4 Great Features of the Star Micronics mPOP

Every day, I see more and more businesses moving to a mobile-based POS system (yes, even the ones found inside brick and mortar stores). While there are a number of software options out there, there is still the need to have some sort of mobile device (typically an iPad, Android tablet, or Microsoft Surface), printer…

The Connection – The Serial Port: Part II

In our last blog, I discussed the world of the USB connection and a little bit of background on the various types of interfaces you may see. Moving forward, we take a look at one of the early types of connections but one still found commonly on printers and industrial computers, the Serial port. Disclaimer:…