Zonbu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Zonbu | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Private Startup |
| Genre | Computer |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Grégoire Gentil and Alain Rossmann |
| Headquarters | Palo Alto, California, USA |
| Industry | PC |
| Products | Zonbu Box and Subscription |
| Website | 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.
Contents |
[edit] Hardware
The Zonbu hardware, called the Zonbox, 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:[1]
- 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:[2]
- 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-4854[3] sold by DMP Electronics of Taiwan.
[edit] Service
The Zonbu subscription plans[4] 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.
[edit] Software 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.
[edit] Applications
Zonbu comes pre-loaded with a number of software applications, including 30 casual games.[5] 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 [1]. The procedure is highly technical and intended for a minority of users.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Limitations
As a thin-client product striving to minimize the amount of power used, Zonbu had to trade off some features:[6]
- Zonbu does not include a large hard disk. Instead, a 4Gb memory card caches documents locally before synchronizing and storing them online via Amazon's S3. This provides automatic backup, but you have to pay extra for this backup service and the high-speed broadband to transport these files over the Internet.
- One cannot have multiple user accounts on one Zonbu box.
- It does not come with monitor, keyboard, mouse, WiFi adapter, speakers or optical drive. However, a WiFi option is available as an internal or external upgrade. An optional ultra-slim optical drive is now available for burning CDs, reading and playing DVDs.
[edit] See also
- Everex, provider of the hardware used on some Zonbu models [2]
- Linutop Linux PC
- Linpus Linux
- OLPC laptop
- gOS
[edit] References
- ^ Zonbu official website.
- ^ Zonbu Live enthusiast site.
- ^ DMP's ebox-4854.
- ^ Zonbu official website.
- ^ Lam, Brian. 22 Things to Know About the $99 Zonbu Linux PC.
- ^ $99 Desktop Comes With Too Many Catches.
[edit] External links
- Zonbu official website
- EPATec, distributor of same hardware in Germany and Spain
- Zonbu First Look Video
- Climate Trust
- Norhtec MicroClient Jr.
