Historically large retailers have undertaken million dollar efforts, led by big consulting firms like IBM, to introduce this kind of technology into their stores, while most small businesses have relied on credit card terminals and traditional cash registers. 

Benefits of Integrated POS systems

PC-based systems like this almost always connect to the processing networks using IP over your broadband connection, rather than a dialup modem, which is nice because it dramatically decreases your transaction times.

Most small businesses do not have electronic records of their inventories and sales, which makes it harder for them to run their business.  My retail business briefly had a physical operation and it was an incredible mess compared to our online operation which, by necessity, had fully electronic records or inventories and sales.  Having such records makes business decision making much simpler, you can see what is selling, when it is selling and order accordingly, reducing inventories and stock-outs (times when someone wants to buy something but cannot because you are out of it).

I believe that one reason why so few small merchants have POS systems like this is that they are really a pain to put together and not many of the technology providers have focused on making it easy.  You can order laptops and desktops off of dell.com or bestbuy.com but there is no way to order a POS system (Intuit is the only exception).

Problems with this system

First, I am not a big fan of the lack of information available about the product.  Why don't they say how much it will cost or exactly what is included?

Second, because it is being distributed by First Data, a merchant acquirer, they likely will try to slip in some unfavorable processing rates.  All else equal you would be much better off with a system that does not lock you into a single processor.

Third, because it is leased, you must Beware of Ripoff Leases.

 Conclusion

I believe that a major change is afoot, with technology being better packaged for use by small businesses.  Small business is a huge segment of the economy and one that has been underserved by technology for a long time, mainly because it has been too hard to use.  Now that the big companies have all the technology they need and are no longer as profitable a market, I think we will see more technology companies target small business as an end-market.