| Low-cost, eco-friendly computing device runs Linux |
May 08, 2007
 A Palo Alto, Calif. based start-up is readying a silent, low-cost, Linux-based computing appliance said to burn an order of magnitude less power than traditional PCs. The Zonbu Zonbox runs Gentoo Linux and two dozen open source applications on a Via C7 processor clocked at 1.2GHz.
Zonbu Zonbox
The Zonbox is currently in the final stages of beta testing, with general availability expected "this summer," according to founder Gregoire Gentil. When the device ships, it will be priced at $250, or $100 when purchased with a two-year, $13/month service plan.
Zonbu's service plan includes software updates and automatic file backups, with encryption. Users can access their backups on other PCs, too, via an included private web space.
And, Zonbu says that if a Zonbox fails within three years, the company will ship out a replacement "that very day," after which the user can "just plug in your replacement Zonbox and immediately access your valuable data with all of your preferences and settings intact." They are then expected to send their old Zonbox back, presumably re-using the packaging material.
Zonbox hardware
The Zonbox is an extremely small device that appears to measure about 6 x 8 inches, and to stand about two inches tall. It weighs only two pounds and is relatively rugged, since it lacks a fragile hard disk drive.
It consumes 15 Watts (average), or 131 kW/year, generating about 97 pounds of CO2 emissions, according to Zonbu. To "completely eliminate the carbon footprint" of the Zonbox, Zonbu will buy "regulatory grade carbon offsets" from Climate Trust, the company said.
A standard PC, in comparison, consumes 175 Watts on average, or 1,533 kW/year, and produces 1,134 pounds of CO2 -- equivalent to about 60 gallons of gasoline, according to Zonbu's figures.
What's under the hood?
Not surprisingly, given Zonbu's ecological orientation, the Zonbox is based on a Via C7 processor clocked at 1.2GHz. Via earlier launched a Clean Computing Initiative aimed at offsetting the already small carbon footprint of its x86-compatible desktop processor, the C7-D.
Interestingly, Via's C7 processors feature built-in, Linux-friendly cryptography hardware that probably saves time and processor cycles, since the Zonbox encrypts all user data using "state-of-the-art 128-bit encryption" before sending it to Zonbu's remote backup facility.
The Zonbox has 512MB of RAM, and comes with 4GB of flash-based local storage -- possibly an IDE module, or possibly just a CompactFlash card, since the Zonbox does appear to have a CompactFlash slot.
I/O includes 10/100 Ethernet, audio I/O, six USB ports, and PS/2 connectors so that users need not consume new input devices. A photo of a prototype device appears to show a connector for an external wireless antenna, although Zonbu's as-yet secret literature suggests a Belkin USB WiFi network adapter will be used instead in the final production device.
According to Zonbu, other supported peripherals will include:- 1,111 HP and 488 non-HP printers
- 818 digital cameras
- iPod and Creative Nomad Jukebox-based players
- Any USB storage device
Currently unsupported peripherals include web cams, scanners, and bluetooth radios.
On the software side, the Zonbox is based on Gentoo Linux and comes with "$2,000 worth of software," which is said to include:- Internet -- Firefox, Evolution, instant messenger, Skype, P2P/BitTorrent
- Office -- Acrobat Reader, GnuCash personal finance manager, and OpenOffice.org office suite (including database and math components)
- Multimedia -- Banshee, mplayer, fspot
- Publishing -- GimpShop, Scribus desktop publisher, Nvu web page editor
- Games -- Supertux, Tiltball, Tron, Breakout, Frozen Bubble, Penguins, Pingus, Tetris, Chess, Crossword Puzzles, Solitaire, Sodoku, Swap Attach, Blobwars, Chromium, Billiards, Civiliziation, Ataxx, Five or More, Four in a Row, Iagno, Klotski, Mahjongg, Mines, Nibbles, Robots, Same GNOME, Tali, Tetravex
Availability
The Zonbox is expected to ship this summer, priced at $250, or $100 with the with a two-year $13/month subscription to the company's Zonbu service.
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