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  Chris, 2 Jul 2003 @ 5:35am

  
  

  No Subject Given

  I've used the self scanner at Food Lion - I hate the things. Buying the same groceries at the same price but now doing more work in the process does not sound like a great deal for consumer. In essence its a price increase, only its not cash - the cost is time and effort.
  

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  Anonymous Coward, 2 Jul 2003 @ 7:41am

  
  

  No Subject Given

  I love these things. The lines are short and you don't have to deal with a cashier who is usually so disinterested in their job they fall asleep. I have them in 3 stores in my area, BJs wholesale, Home Depot, and Stop and Shop and I make a beeline for them as they are typically unoccupied.
  
  The down side is you have to bag your own groceries which can slow the line down if your alone. VIVA LE' TECHNOLOGY !!!

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  CHIA GARCIA, 2 Jul 2003 @ 8:51am

  
  

  No Subject Given

  I just discovered these. I think the user interface on them might be just a little too friendly. I understand why people are afraid of them, but I think that it's a little silly. Being afraid of this kind of technology should be a blanket deal. If you're going to be afraid of self scanners, you should also be afraid of any touch screen device, like palm pilots. Then you might also be afraid of toasters and talking car alarms that announce "I AM VIPER" in a deep molderous voice.
  
  Why not?
  Where do you draw the line?

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  • 

    thecaptain, 3 Jul 2003 @ 5:40am

    
    

    Re: No Subject Given

    What about toasters who nag you with: "Would you like some toast?"
    
    (A nod to Red Dwarf, I couldn't resist)

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  Anon the Moose, 2 Jul 2003 @ 9:45am

  
  

  Airport Check-In

  The best "self scanner" I have run across are the credit card check-in kiosks at airports. I don't think I've spent more than ~3 minutes checking in for a flight in the past 6+ months.

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  Glenn, 2 Jul 2003 @ 11:45am

  
  

  A few thoughts

  That last commment about the airport 'scanner.' Makes me wonder how people would embrace these technologies if you could somehow virtually add items to your 'checkout cart' while you shop, and when you leave the store, just swipe the credit card. That's what makes the airline check in so quick... the sytem already knows what you want to 'buy.' Of course the end game is to just RFID the world, and when you walk out of the store, it knows all the goods you are carrying and automatically debits your account.
  
  Second thought: I absolutely hate these machines in grocery stores. Only if I have less than 5 items, and my items don't require weighing (veggies), do I use them. Usually because they never recognize when I put the groceries in the bag after scanning, and it tells me over and over 'please place your items in the bag.' But they should reduce costs (in theory) of running a store, which should (in theory) result in lower consumer prices.

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