Barcodes are easy and cheap to read in a way that QR codes aren’t (particularly complex ones)
Any old cheap laser scanner will read a barcode and they can be made at large sizes e.g. how Aldi use them on products in the UK to make self scan faster
QR codes need a camera, their complexity goes up as more data is encoded in them so require better cameras especially is high speed situations
They both have places in the world and will co-exist for years to come
Most barcode scanners are already cameras, actually. Turns out that it is a lot cheaper to manufacture than the old "put a mirror on a moving 2d servo assembly" approach - and it's more reliable as well.
You can get an entry-level barcode scanner from a reputable brand with 2d support for less than 100 bucks, and you'll have trouble finding any kind of premium scanner which doesn't have 2d support.
And cheap generic one for about fourth or third of that... With some software bugs, but still surprisingly capable. Like reading kilobyte sized QR codes.
Got cheap one from China that does my uses cases pretty well. Supports USB, proprietary wireless and BT...
There is cheaper models with less features. Pointing towards quite a lot of market segmentation. And I could guess some of those models are same but with different firmware...
If camera’s are cheaper then why do supermarkets stick to lasers?
I’ve worked in areas where barcodes and QR codes were used for automation — we used both but for fast, cheap and reliable scanning barcodes were the winner
Where more data needed to be encoded then QR codes were used but the wuality and price of cameras needed to read QR codes as items came based on an automated line was significantly more costly than barcodes
youngtaff · · focus · HN ↗
Barcodes are easy and cheap to read in a way that QR codes aren’t (particularly complex ones)
Any old cheap laser scanner will read a barcode and they can be made at large sizes e.g. how Aldi use them on products in the UK to make self scan faster
QR codes need a camera, their complexity goes up as more data is encoded in them so require better cameras especially is high speed situations
They both have places in the world and will co-exist for years to come
crote · · focus · HN ↗
You can get an entry-level barcode scanner from a reputable brand with 2d support for less than 100 bucks, and you'll have trouble finding any kind of premium scanner which doesn't have 2d support.
Ekaros · · focus · HN ↗
Got cheap one from China that does my uses cases pretty well. Supports USB, proprietary wireless and BT...
There is cheaper models with less features. Pointing towards quite a lot of market segmentation. And I could guess some of those models are same but with different firmware...
youngtaff · · focus · HN ↗
I’ve worked in areas where barcodes and QR codes were used for automation — we used both but for fast, cheap and reliable scanning barcodes were the winner
Where more data needed to be encoded then QR codes were used but the wuality and price of cameras needed to read QR codes as items came based on an automated line was significantly more costly than barcodes