Zonbu

Infobox Company
name = Zonbu

type = Private Startup
genre = Computer
foundation = 2006
founder = Grégoire Gentil and Alain Rossmann
location_city = Palo Alto, California
location_country = USA
location =
industry = PC
products = Zonbu Box and Subscription
slogan = Green doesn't have to make you Blue!
homepage = [http://www.zonbu.com/ Zonbu.com]

Zonbu is a technology company that sells a computing platform which combines a web-centric service, a small form factor PC, and an open source based software architecture.

Hardware

The Zonbu hardware, called the Zonbu Mini, is a miniature desktop computer measuring 6 ¾” × 4 ¾” × 2 ¼”. It is flash based, fanless, and thus effectively silent. The official specifications for the device are as follows: [cite web|title=Zonbu official website|url=http://www.zonbu.com/device/]
* 1.2 GHz Via Eden CPU (C7 Esther core)
* 512 MB RAM
* Ethernet 10/100 Mbit/s
* PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, VGA display port and 6 USB 2.0 ports
* 4 GB CompactFlash local storage
* Graphics up to 2048 x 1536 with 16 million colors – hardware graphics and MPEG2 acceleration

Disassembly by Zonbu owners has shown that the Zonbu includes significant options for internal expansion: [cite web|title=Zonbu Live enthusiast site|url=http://www.zonbulive.net/?p=10]
* Mini PCI slot (for an optional wireless card)
* IDE connector, with room in the case for a 2.5" hard drive
* serial and parallel ports

The first-generation Zonbox hardware is identical to the eBox-4854cite web|url=http://compactpc.com.tw/ebox-4854.htm|title=DMP's ebox-4854] sold by DMP Electronics of Taiwan.

Service

The Zonbu subscription plans [cite web|url=http://www.zonbu.com/plans/|title=Zonbu official website] include online storage (using Amazon S3), automatic upgrades, online support and remote file access. The subscription service is promoted as reducing the hassle of typical computer maintenance tasks, such as hardware repair, software installation, updates and upgrades, and malicious software removal.

oftware architecture

The Zonbu OS is a customized version of Linux based on the Gentoo distribution using the Xfce desktop environment. It is geared towards non-technical users, and the user interface focuses more on simplicity than advanced features.

The filesystem architecture combines a transparent overlay filesystem (pioneered by Linux Live Distributions) with an on-line backup service. User data is locally cached on Compact Flash Card, then transparently encrypted with 128-bit encryption and transferred to remote storage servers at Amazon S3.

Applications

Zonbu comes pre-loaded with a number of software applications, including 30 casual games. [cite web |url=http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/exclusive-hands_on/22-things-to-know-about-the-99-zonbu-linux-pc-262952.php|title=22 Things to Know About the $99 Zonbu Linux PC|last=Lam|first=Brian] These include the Firefox web browser, OpenOffice productivity suite and Skype IP phone service.

With the default OS, the user is not allowed to install any third-party software. The default set of applications is supposed to fit the needs of non-technical users or of a second home PC. However, Zonbu provides instructions to unlock the operating system and install additional software [http://www.zonbu.com/doc/doku.php?id=developer_edition] . The procedure is highly technical and intended for a minority of users .

Environmental benefits

Zonbu consumes less than 10 watts on average and 15 watts under full load, compared to 175 watts for a typical desktop PC. It is a carbon emission neutral computer thanks to this low power design and regulatory grade carbon offset purchased by Zonbu from Climate Trust, a carbon offset provider. These offsets take into account the energy used by the manufacturing process and by the device over its expected lifespan, but not the remote storage service.

The Zonbu manufacturing process complies with the standard of the European RoHS Directive.

The company also offers a free take-back program to minimize environmental e-waste.

ee also

* Everex, provider of the hardware used on some Zonbu models [http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9053954642.html]
* Linutop Linux PC
* Linpus Linux
* OLPC laptop
* gOS

References

External links

* [http://www.zonbu.com/ Zonbu official website]
* [http://www.epatec.com/ EPATec, distributor of same hardware in Germany and Spain]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT1CJd7jFo0 Zonbu First Look Video]
* [http://www.climatetrust.org/ Climate Trust]
* [http://www.norhtec.com/products/mcjr/index.html Norhtec MicroClient Jr.]

Media

* [http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT6425549202.html Zonbu Notebook review by LinuxDevices]
* [http://www.pcworld.com/article/140093/zonbu_launches_subscription_laptops.html Zonbu Launches Subscription Laptops]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/technology/personaltech/13laptop.html?8cir&emc=cir A Holiday Helper for the Computer Savvy]
* [http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/1015/056.html Hassle-Free PC]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/technology/16cheap.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1184644840-Nk6c8KcWSXtdMQBrgU%2FkDg A PC That Uses Less Energy, but Charges a Monthly Fee]
* [http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/18/zonbu-launches-subscription-based-pc-service-plans Engadget: Zonbu launches subscription-based PC, service plans]
* [http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2153829,00.asp Zonbu Desktop Mini]
* [http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2259165,00.asp Everex Zonbu Notebook]
* [http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2136254,00.asp Sneak Peek at the Zonbu PC]