A friend of mine has a restaurant and constantly gripes about the poor usability computer reservation system.
However he also pointed out one thing this blog misses (r.e. the reasons restaurants use them) and that is that it lets them automate reservations - i.e. let people reserve online.
Apparently this can be a major advantage now; significant enough to take the awkwardness.
He also mentioned that the computer has advantages over a whiteboard in that it is easier to modify cleanly, limits the number of things like double bookings and so forth, that a whiteboard can create. :)
More than that, the online systems may give you the software for free and possibly the computer too, because they will take a $1 or so off of each reservation. Since restaurants are perpetually cash-strapped, this saving to the owner outweighs any inconvenience to the actual users.
However he also pointed out one thing this blog misses (r.e. the reasons restaurants use them) and that is that it lets them automate reservations - i.e. let people reserve online.
Apparently this can be a major advantage now; significant enough to take the awkwardness.
He also mentioned that the computer has advantages over a whiteboard in that it is easier to modify cleanly, limits the number of things like double bookings and so forth, that a whiteboard can create. :)