Zonbu's prepping subscription laptops for 2008

The Zonbu Mini is about to get a portable friend. Zonbu has just revealed its Everex-built Zonbu Notebook, which will be hitting the market in Q1 2008. The $279 upfront pricetag is quite a bit heftier than the $99 Mini, but the subscription fee remains the same at $14.95. Specs are quite the improvement on the Mini, with a 1.5GHz VIA C7-M processor, 60GB HDD, DVD-RW / CD-RW drive, VIA Chrome9 HC integrated graphics, WiFi and a 15.4-inch 1440 x 900 display. Zonbu claims up to three hours of battery, and of course all those "hassle-free" promises and managed Linux software of the original. In a world of $399 Eee PCs and cheaper Black Friday bargains, a $279 laptop with a hefty subscription fee might not seem like such a steal, but it's not hard to see the appeal for a first-time PC buyer, and it certainly bests the Mini. The best news is that if you're willing to put up with some beta software, Zonbu is selling the Notebook as of today for those risk-taking luddites out there.

[mister XR @ Nov 28th 2007 11:20AM]

For a second there I thought it said "Zombo". haha, I've sent so many irritating people to zombo.com, much more sfw than goatse or tubgirl.

[Ipaq3115 @ Nov 28th 2007 11:23AM]

Now do you HAVE to commit to the subscription???

Cause I can imagine gutsy sliding right in there...

[eX @ Nov 28th 2007 12:00PM]

Why would anyone buy this with a subscribtion? This laptop whilst decent enough for a typical user is not worth a whole lot more than the bast price. In walmart you get a similar model with nearly twice the specs for less than $500. So I'd guess this one is like $350-400 new, tops. In just one year you'd pay $180 worth of subscription money and not even sure whether person would even own the computer. Don't know, perhaps the extra software they put in is worth it but personally I'd avoid anything that requires subscriptions as much as possible and now of all things it's a computer. If the computer was say $100 then it'd make sense but this just doesn't look like it'd take off. Even if it was for money saving (payments), you'll save more money buying it on a credit card and pay it off in a couple of months.

[muyi @ Nov 28th 2007 12:08PM]

wat happens it gets stolen or damaged or something...

bad bad idea..

[kyle allen @ Nov 28th 2007 12:10PM]

yep, that'l run doom

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 28th 2007 12:45PM]

-but will it run Quake 2?

[Fuzzball @ Nov 28th 2007 1:03PM]

What's the point of the subscription? One is paying to continue to use the laptop and it will stop functioning Microsoft Activation style? And what's going to stop me from wiping the HDD and loading a different OS? Is the BIOS going to look for a super secret file on the medium it's booting from?

[dj-kenpo @ Nov 28th 2007 1:35PM]

who would be stupid enough to buy that?

go on ebay, get 1.5ghz pentium mobile laptop for $220, install ubunto linux (if you NEED linux).

where's the hassle?

[wcnghj @ Nov 28th 2007 5:45PM]

It cost $479 without the monthly service for 2 years.

[Matt O @ Nov 28th 2007 7:57PM]

this isnt for people that read engadget, this is for people that want to turn on their computers and for them to just work because everything is remotely monitored by the Zonbu staff. That is why they pay for a subscription

[Stew @ Nov 29th 2007 2:10AM]

This wee Zonbu Notebook fella is the future. The way I look at it, we've all had our head's in the F*%$#soft / F*&^tel sand for so long we're unable to recognize a better deal when it arrives. Think of the pros for most non-gaming humans.

You'll never ever lose your data!
You'll never ever have to deal with viruses or spyware!
It only uses 15 watts! (therefore pretty damn green)
It's as cheap as it gets!

Still no convinced?
Take a look at this video I made about the Zonbu and it's effect on the average human.

http://www.technovoyance.com

This is a new dawn. Wake up!!!!

[skhawaja @ Nov 29th 2007 2:31AM]

Cool - a remote terminal :] why aren't you touting this company Engadget? okay, so I have to pay $50 for the OneCare package for 1 Year or $180 for Zonbu and stay updated.

I think this would be an interesting thing for small companies that just need communications between personnel and clients using email and spreadsheets - that have no way of budgeting for a tech department or even paying someone come in and do it.

This idea does have merit - and I saw the mini as well - very creative use of a terminal device.