Linux based Solutions

[Stuart Tanner]

Dear Group

I have a client who currently uses a paper based ordering system,
very unorganised and disfunctional. They currently have just opened
their third store and things have reached a point where they realise
they just cannot carry on as they are.

So I am proposing that they have linux based Point of Sale solution
that will not only save them money, be much more stable than any
Windows option.

There primary business is Sweets, Boiled, Chews, Mints etc.

However they have now a growing business in American Speciliality
Sodas from which they have developed a fan club style following with
additional merchandising such as t-shirts, cowboy hats etc all
branded.

So I am looking for more than just a point of sale solution with
warehousing I am looking for Customer Relationship Management also.

Currently Enterprise Resource is not such a priority because they
only have three sites at the moment, but if the software has it then
its good for the future.

What solutions do you suggest?

Already considered are:
AdEmpiere - very powerful and very indepth but way to complicated to
understand how to create new users / new business and how to remove
all the test data seems impossible. Seems to require you be AAT or
ACCA certified just to use it! I am not and neither is my client.

Lemon Point of Sale - Development is seriously stalled every bug fix
seems to be 16 months overdue according to the website.. However it
does seem to be configured for touch screens which could speed the
process up if the shop is busy. Also not sure it has support for
multiple sites - only mutliple terminals can anybody clarify?

NolaPro - a great alround solution - easy to install, easy to create
a multisite warehouse shop solution and point of sale, but its not
touch screen ready i don't think and I am not sure it has all the CRM
/ ERP features of AdEmpiere. Also a lot of addons cost money to
purchase and some of them are quite expensive ($299 just for
osCommerce intergration. (Can it be intergrated with OpenCart?)

OpenBravo seems to only be avaialble in a Virtualised format can't
really comment on its features haven't been able to test it properly.

SQL scripts, Shells Scripts, all type considered opinions please?

Thanks
Stuart