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Major Music Retailers Roll Out New CD "Replicator"
Location: U.S.A.
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 Computer technology is not only changing the way people are getting information nowadays, but also the way they are entertained. A custom-made compact disk that contains your favorite songs on one album seemed not feasible few years ago, but it's not the case now. Hip music retailers, a digital music distributor,and a specialized computer maker have been recently teaming up to bring futuristic CD "Replicators" into malls throughout the United States.
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The new music delivery system lets customers have access to a huge off- site music database and download their selections into the store to record a CD on the spot. One of the advantages for the customers is that his local store will never be "cut out" the album he wants. Retailers will like the system because it can give them quick access to a huge "virtual inventory" and fewer lost sales.
The power behind much of the system is a specialized touchscreen Panel PC with 12.1" LCD display, the PPC-120T-EW, made by Advantech.Customers can preview their selections at store kiosks and take their final choices to an Advantech station at the checkout counter. A clerk there runs his or her fingers over a computer screen in a very Star Trek-like fashion and in less than 10 minutes a fresh CD, complete with color cover and liner notes, is ready to be dropped into the customer's bag. The price is expected to be about the same as a pre-recorded CD.
Definitely a "new millennium" phenomenon, test systems have been going into music retail chains only since the beginning of the year. These include Music Town,Wherehouse, Sam Goody's and Target stores in Los Angeles, San Diego and New York (Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, and other major metropolitan areas will be next).
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- The PPC-120T-EW with touchscreen provides a user-friendly interface that allows the customers to operate the system easily.
- Advantech's Panel PCs are developed to industrial-grade standards and handle harsh environments and continuous operation.
- The out-connected functions allow this product nicely integrated with a wide range of peripherals, such as a card reader, speakers, thermal printer and etc.
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