Yes, YOU can DO-IT-YOURSELF, here's how:

    
                                 (It doesn't matter which Foodman! system you are interested in,
                                 the following applies to all of our systems.)


                                 Assume that you want a 3-station touchscreen system; 
                                 two PCs in the dining room, one PC at the bar. It is
                                 not necessary to have a dedicated File-Server PC in the back-office.
               
                                 Each station would have a Receipt Printer and would
                                 share 'Make-Up' printers in the kitchen and bar areas.


                                 You can shop around for inexpensive PCs and Receipt Printers,
                                 cash drawers, Touchscreen monitors on the Internet. There
                                 are lots of people selling industry-standard (Windows) hardware.
                                 Find one you feel comfortable with and save, save, save.
                                 Also, see the links to hardware vendors on www.foodman123.com.


                                 Bear in mind that ALL POS hardware is designed for the
                                 PC and works with all versions of Microsoft Windows.



                                 This is what you need:


                                    1. 3 Inexpensive PCs. These should be the least expensive new PCs
                                       you can find. The price should be no more than $300.00 each.
                                       Total = $900.00.  It is perfectly OK to use PCs which use
                                       AMD or Cyrix processors rather than Intel to save some
                                       more money. (No Monitor on these.) These PCs should have
                                       1gb RAM, Hard Drive, CD drive, 1 parallel and
                                       2 serial ports. One of the three would be designated as
                                       the 'File-Server' and it should have at least 2mg RAM.
                                       (More RAM is better).
                  
                                       All three PCs would use the same version of Microsoft
                                       Windows and the Foodman software would be installed on
                                       the File-Server ONLY. All the PCs will need Network
                                       Interface Cards (NICs) to talk to each other.


                                    2. 3 Touchscreen monitors. These start at approximately $350.00 
                                       each - Total = $1050.00.  You can use the keyboard or
                                       the Touchscreen with Foodman. Depending on the size of
                                       your food Menu, you might be better off using the
                                       keyboard and save the money on the touchscreen monitors
                                       and just use regular monitors instead (1024x768 required). 


                                    3. 3 40-column receipt printers. You can buy Star, Citizen
                                       Epson or any other brand of printer - these start at about 
                                       $200.00 each - Total = $600.00. We strongly recommend
                                       that you use Parallel rather than Serial printers since
                                       Windows has a tendency to not like Serial printers. You
                                       can get extra Parallel ports on the PCs, if required.
                                       Add another $200.00 for each additional kitchen or bar
                                       printer you might need.


                                    4. Microsoft Windows - $189.00 (approx). 


                                    5. Foodman Software (Network version) $995.00. Single-user is $595.00.


                                 All hardware prices are approximate. If you want to get a Laser
                                 printer, cash drawers (about $150.00) or other stuff, go ahead.


                                 This adds up to $3734.00 for a 3-station POS system.  Compare that to 
                                 the megabucks quotes from your Aloha, Micros, Squirrel, RestEz dealers, etc.           




                                 The printers and monitors just attach to the PCs.  You 
                                 install Windows, install Foodman, set-up Windows for 
                                 networking and you are in business.  You may have to have 
                                 special cables made depending on the distance things are from each other.


                                 If you feel a bit uncomfortable doing the installation yourself,
                                 just buy the hardware first (call us to check that you are doing
                                 it correctly) and then pay a local computer store to install 
                                 everything, make cables, and get Windows working. Microsoft
                                 will provide support for networking problems.


                                 It shouldn't take more than a day to get everything set up and
                                 working to your satisfaction.

                                 Try it - you'll like it!