Test Drive: Is Zonbu for You?

Remember when the only real choice in computing was Windows or Mac? Well, feel free to wax nostalgic about those simpler times because, as far as I’m concerned, those days are gone.

Despite the cute ads that play up the rivalry between the two major platforms, there are now enough new and exciting options in the computing landscape to make the Mac or Windows question seem scarcely worth discussing.

Two big changes are driving this variety. First there’s Linux. Once considered exotic, the open-source (free-of-charge and freely customizable) operating system is now available in a Baskin Robbins-like array of friendly flavors and is being served up by big manufacturers and retailers like Dell and Wal-Mart. The second big change is webcentricity: you’ve been working and playing on the Web for years, now your applications and files can live there, too.

Zonbu embraces both these developments. It’s a miniature desktop computer that runs a slick, customized version of Linux and contains no moving parts. Instead of a hard drive, the “Zonbox,” as it is sometimes called, contains just a 4 GB CF card and 512 MB of RAM to handle live memory requirements. All of the applications used and files created are stored on the Web using a subscription service. With a two-year commitment, users pay just $99 for the Zonbox and as little as $12.95 a month for 25 GB of online storage. Zonbu takes care of all the installations, updates, backups, and security—maintenance many casual users will be all too happy not to have to worry about.

Zonbu comes with 20 open-source applications, all loaded and ready to roll, plus about 30 games. It’s a capable range of software—and it has to be—because the biggest trade-off for all this simplicity is the fact that you can’t install any third-party applications. Zonbu doesn’t include a keyboard, mouse, monitor, or disk drive of any kind either.

Because the Zonbox has no cooling fan or other moving parts, it’s also revolutionary on a third front: it may be the greenest (and quietest) computer on the planet. Zonbu claims that its machine uses a miserly 15 watts of power under a full load compared to 175 watts used by a standard desktop PC. Even if lowering carbon emissions isn’t tops on your to-do list, consider the fact that the savings in power consumption could almost offset the cost of a basic Zonbu subscription.

Though I fancy myself too much of a “power user” for the Zonbu to be a good fit for me personally, I have to admit that there weren’t many computing tasks I could dream up that weren’t doable using its wide-ranging software selection.

I surfed the Web using a version of Firefox that includes an optional content filter, merged and checked all my email accounts using the Evolution email client, sent instant messages using the GAIM messenger, listened to streaming radio and MP3s using Banshee, watched movie clips using MPlayer, edited photos with Gimp, and, ultimately, wrote this review using OpenOffice Writer.

Impressed by the built-in applications, I was then really curious to see how Zonbu would handle all my outboard stuff—my camera, printer, and MP3 player. Since the Zonbox can’t install third-party software, including the drivers and software that come with plug-in devices, Zonbu has to support outboard gadgets from their end. That’s a pretty tall order, but they do a reasonably good job with it. My keyboard, mouse, monitor, and MP3 player all worked perfectly when connected to the Zonbox. And, while Zonbu couldn’t employ the Mac/Windows editing software on my Flip Video camera, it did recognize and read the device, and I was able to play the video clips I’d recorded on it. The biggest problem I had was installing my printer. Initially, the Zonbu OS froze during printer setup. After rebooting, I found that my printer wasn’t listed, so I simply chose the closest model and the printer worked just fine.

Users who want a low-cost, environmentally friendly, hassle-free computer should look beyond the Windows or Mac thing and consider Zonbu instead.