For those complaining that it isn't just $99 because of the online storage subscription, remember that some $500 PC isn't just $500 if you factor in electricity costs.

If you have an average PC drawing 175 watts, running 24/7 as mine usually is, and pay the avg 9.86 cents/kwh, that's $151 a year, or $12.60 a month. Double that if you have a high-end gaming system.

Zonbu draws 15 watts, or $1.08 a month. The difference in electricity costs alone practically equals the $12.95 of the lowest storage plan. If you live in places with higher electricity rates, such as CA and the Northeastern US, you're saving money every month.

Plus you get free data backup, online access to all your files and a 3-year warranty. Well worth it in my opinion.

That said, I'm getting one (runner-up was the new iMac). This is small and cheap, and the online storage/backup fits my needs perfectly. I'll also love having a quiet computer for once. Not just quiet, but absolutely silent.

My one sticking point was the inability to install programs not in the Zonbu-supported repository. After researching this though, if you install the developer version of the OS, you can install your own software, just without support.

everlong

Charssun

I've been trading emails with the Zonbu support folks. Apparently there is a "community" version of the OS that you can hack to your heart's content. It's just not supported as well. So you are not too Tivoed.

Personally, I *like* the business model. The prices aren't bad for offsite backup, and offsite backup by S3 is a *good* thing- a RAID doesn't really help much when the floodwaters rise.

I also like that this runs around 15W- that makes it eligible as a 24/7 box with negligible energy requirements.

So, sign me up- 1 for my kids and general backup (photos, etc.), and maybe one for my mom.

syphax

Why not? Is this a TiVoization "violate the purpose of the GPL" deal with DRMed hardware, or just that they don't support your modifications?

mathew

As for the subscription, it seems a reasonable trade-off for supporting a non-techie user community who don't want to be bothered with managing hard drives and making backups. Besides, would you rather pay a subscription fee of some sort for TiVo, or build your own DVR? (Oops, I think I know the answer to that one... [sigh]).

tremolux

St.Jimmy

One thing though, how does a dedicated MPEG-2 decoder help with MPEG-4? I guess the decoder chip supports multiple formats, H.264 PLEASE!

jackelmatador

Pthance

xxenclavexx

Brian Sexton

zenpoet

Who you sayin's got ADD? I want you to know that I resent that and -

Oh look, there's a butterfly....

koftun

I'm very happy to be learning that folks are way ahead of my leanings and coming out with these modest flash-based systems that will handle general computing tasks.

I still want to build my own though.
If I do it'll likely be a Linux venture too.

I guess it's only fair to say "Prepare to be emulated!!" :D

(Nice pic Brian. You DID say that's as far as you got transforming Optimus, right?) ;)

strider_mt2k

davidfbecker

Aleung

The only limit is yourself.

bignaz2k

phreakincool

Yaotl

...
What was I saying again?

Brian Lam

overall though some real nice work done for the linux front by zombu

dj-kenpo

Zonbox is sold for $99 with a two-year service pre-payment at $12.95 per month. The service can be canceled at any time and customer will receive a prorated refund of the balance of the remaining subscription minus the prorated Zonbox rebate. Zonbox is sold for $249 without any commitment.

Yaotl

Anjow

I just don't really see why you'd want a linux system that you couldn't install anything to. Kindof the exact opposite of what linux is about. If you just want an idiot proof system for the wife/kids or whatever you can build one of those for really cheap.

I mean the Amazon synching thing is kindof cool but as you said that software is open-source.

skeeve