Does your kiosk work on Vista or WIN7? I'm already running these and it wouldn't cost me anything extra to put one of my laptops to work as a kiosk other than the cost of the software.
Sure. All you have to do is run virtual PC under XP mode and you're all set.
Do you have a multi-use license so that attendees with their own laptops can operate a kiosk at my shows?
You are welcome to purchase as many as you like to give to your attendees. Makes a wonderful holiday gift.
You see, making a pdf doesn't seem all that complicated to me. For your kiosk to work, you have to start with the same list of files. After that, it's just updating the pdf and redistributing. The pdf format is native to each up-to-date operating system that I've looked at. I've been waiting for the prices on the Ipad to drop because when I held it in my hand and flipped through the pages of my song-book just like I would browse my paper books, I thought "how easy is this?". Nothing to teach. Works just like a book, it can be instantly updated and it has search/sort built right in. It also has the advantage of being multi-media so I can include things like last week's photos for viewing during the show. I've even looked at the large format Kindle and the last generation's price is already falling. Kindle also reads pdf files as a native format.
Exactly. And in this case, you don't even have to do that, just copy a single file to it and a couple clicks and it does the rest. Same thing to update it.... copy a file and a couple clicks....
I've used a laptop for a songbook for over a year and the history file actually has the reverse effect for my singers than what you suggested. My singers look at the history file and choose songs they haven't sung yet. The people who want to sing the same songs over and over are going to do that regardless of their history file.
I've never had issues with people using that laptop. It doesn't create a line.
Then you tell that to Thunder who as always held that there is no way he could run a kiosk because his shows are far too busy for that and the ensuing line of singers would simply be out of the question.
I still think the tablet format for digital song-books is perfect. They all have wi-fi available now so you can use the network function and a chat client to send/receive song requests at little or no additional cost. Tracking software is only there as a safeguard and it is inexpensive and we all know how easy it is to install software. We'd have to be capable of installing the kiosk wouldn't we?
Uh oh..... Keep in mind that "Wi-Fi" is a LOT different than a "Wireless Network" setup. Good luck with that. And exactly how many of these $180.00 WiFi-enabled, GPS-tracked tablet computers are you going to hand out to your attendees? Two? Three? Five? And you're not only going to copy pictures of last week's show on each one, but have to put each on on a battery charger every night? You're making this way too complicated for yourself but who am I to tell you that you are reinventing the wheel when there are several models already available on the shelf.
Back off on the hard-sell just a little. Think about how you'd want to learn about your product if you were the customer. By all means advocate your product and extol the benefits, but you might want to refrain from debating your potential customers' concerns. I'm not saying this to be critical, I'm saying this to be constructive, with respect.
First of all, I'm not "hard selling" anything. It's up to you to use books, not use books, use a kiosk, make your own or anything else. No one is forcing you. This thread is about using "A Kiosk", not "using Chip's Kisok." So I'm not selling anything here. There are other kiosk programs - just ask DannyG.
And I'm not "debating" anyone here however, I will most certainly challenge the standard and unfounded fear(s) that many hosts have that there will be "no human interaction" (Audio One) or that there will be "a line of singers" (Thunder) -- A fear that
even you admit (above) is unfounded and does NOT happen, and I thank you for that because I understand how easy it is for someone to think that I'd say only what they "want to hear" to make a sale. This isn't about "sales."
Like it or not, currently in this thread, I have the most "practical experience" with using a touchscreen kiosk in a karaoke environment. Years of experience with young crowds, older crowds, super-busy nights and slow nights. I know what the advantages are and what really happens when patrons are introduced to a kiosk. I'm not bragging by any means, but having a kiosk has given me an advantage over other shows that have far outweighed the fears that other KJ's have about using them.
As the developer, I have an additional insight into what functions most patrons will really use, not just a collection of functions that never get used. And because of this, I've been able to develop this "up close" to the end users by actually asking them -while they're using it- what they like, don't like, would like to see, need to get rid of, etc. It's not a "theoretical guess" at what I think they would like or not.
Contrary to popular belief, this is not just a re-write of internet jukebox software.
So, and with all due respect as well, use a kiosk if you like, or don't. Buy one off the shelf or make your own if you like - whether it's simple or complicated, it doesn't matter to me. But I can tell you that you won't lose any "human interaction" or have any problems with lines based on my experience.