Puppy on Zonbu

What works, and doesn't, for you. Be specific, and please include Puppy version.
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boerner
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue 13 Sep 2005, 17:13

Puppy on Zonbu

#1 Post by boerner »

I searched through all the forums here but found few entries about the new Zonbu PC (which can be bought for only $249 USD without a subscription to any services)

See these entries for more info:

http://www.zonbu.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonbu

But what really caught my eye is that some people are taking notice of how fast Puppy is on this hardware:

http://mrzonbu.wordpress.com/2007/09/06 ... /#more-232

I myself am tempted to buy one myself. I could also be convinced to throw some money into the pot to buy a unit for Barry.

Thoughts anyone? [/url]

raffy
Posts: 4798
Joined: Wed 25 May 2005, 12:20
Location: Manila

over-powered

#2 Post by raffy »

Considering that Puppy runs well in 300 mhz , 128 MB RAM machine, Zonbu is "over-powered" for Puppy. :) This means that given Zonbu's specifications, it will have superb performance when running Puppy Linux.

I guess this is the biggest argument for a user to be weaned from Win-boxes: high computing performance while enjoying zero malware. And Puppy is fun to tweak to your wishes.
Puppy user since Oct 2004. Want FreeOffice? [url=http://puppylinux.info/topic/freeoffice-2012-sfs]Get the sfs (English only)[/url].

KF6SNJ
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#3 Post by KF6SNJ »

Looking at the machine specs and information, I see what I consider some serious red flags. To start with, it does not have a built in cd/dvd drive, you have to purchase it separately. Second, it comes prepackaged with its own Zonbu OS. This is why you only pay $249, as they expect you to use thier OS and its associated subscription service (which is meant for the same purpose for which I presently use a 40Gb external drive).

However, just for argument, I am going to write them and ask what thier device would cost with the optional external cd/dvd device and solar panel sans the subscription service.....

boerner
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue 13 Sep 2005, 17:13

#4 Post by boerner »

The $249 price IS without the subscription to their services. The price goes done even further if you subscribe.

That price would be very good for just the hardware, let alone the 4gb CF card and the OS load they have already put together.

As far as not having an optical drive, I could go either way.

KF6SNJ
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#5 Post by KF6SNJ »

For a full system, that is a Zonbu, no subscription, and the external cd/dvd device with shipping and handling, it is roughly $306.00 I think this a more than reasonable price for a brand new system and would an excellent system for puppy in a small apartment or trailer. Still, if you wanted, this work great in a home office if you wanted to keep clutter to a bare minimum. I may just have to buy one.
The only windows I have are those on my home.

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laika
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#6 Post by laika »

Puppy and Zonbu seems like a marriage waiting to happen, IMH.

the $249USD (no subscription) gets you the box plus two Gig of storage on their server, plus their automatic updates of the Gentoo-based OS and included programs.

the appeal of the hardware (for me, anyway) is that it's tiny, noiseless (no fans, no moving drives) and consumes very little power while being more than capable of what most people need from a computer.

i'm told that you need a pretty fast connection for their storage and maintenance model to work unnoticed by the user.

i'm tempted by the Zonbu, but then i'm already running myPup nearly solid-state on my old computer :-)

KF6SNJ
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#7 Post by KF6SNJ »

Reading through the Zonbu website, I noticed something of interest. Zonbu does not recommend changing the OS on their little device. Furthermore, they list that Puppy on the Zonbu has both video and audio problems. My question is what version of Puppy was used and how hard would it be to work around this. I still think that Puppy running on a Zonbu type machine would be ideal. Any thoughts?

raffy
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video

#8 Post by raffy »

VIA Unichrome is a subject that comes up often when it comes to VIA boards, and which is discussed well here. Tempestuous is always on hand for problems in this area. That is about video.

Maybe Zonbu folks should be invited over to discuss their remaining problems here. :)
Puppy user since Oct 2004. Want FreeOffice? [url=http://puppylinux.info/topic/freeoffice-2012-sfs]Get the sfs (English only)[/url].

KF6SNJ
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#9 Post by KF6SNJ »

I will send them an invitation....

Fanless_Puppy_Fan
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu 21 Jun 2007, 02:24

#10 Post by Fanless_Puppy_Fan »

I don't think they'll be too eager to accept the invitation to accommodate other OS'es. Their business model depends on the subscriptions.

While I suspect that they are not selling the unit below cost, I'd bet they are selling them at a net loss when accounting for overhead, etc. Anyway, I think a skilled hardware hobbyist could certainly figure out which drivers, etc and could throw together a nice .pup that would make the unit fully functional.

That would be cool.

Fanless_Puppy_Fan
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Joined: Thu 21 Jun 2007, 02:24

#11 Post by Fanless_Puppy_Fan »

BTW, isn't the zonbu just an e-box that you can get at WDL systems? The cheapest I could convigure it at zonbu.com was for $314 and then cancel the subscription the next month.

Aymeric
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Joined: Sun 18 Nov 2007, 01:02

#12 Post by Aymeric »

Hi all,

I'm an engineer at Zonbu, answering the invitation you sent us. Zonbu has always been actively cooperating with the open-source community, and we release all our patches here:
http://www.zonbu.com/company/developer.htm

If you start working on Puppy Linux for Zonbu, there's probably valuable info in our forums and our documentation (check the developer section).
http://www.zonbu.com/forums/
http://www.zonbu.com/doc/

However, as mentionned in this thread, we want to have users of our OS and our services, not users of our hardware (which is outsourced). Think "mobile phone"—it's the same business model. Our goal is to provide an hassle-free computing experience, using state-of-the-art open-source software. Hardware is just commodity to reach this goal. So it does not make sense for us to spend time to make Puppy Linux work on our hardware.

You're welcome to buy a device without any subscription plan (choose "à la carte" plan and de-select all options). We recently revised our pricing as we went out of beta, please go to our online shop for the most up-to-date info.
http://www.zonbu.com/shop/

Thanks for your interest in Zonbu!

KF6SNJ
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#13 Post by KF6SNJ »

Given that Zonbu has now upped their prices, and I was only interested in the hardware anyway, I am now more likely to consider building something similar in size to the Zonbu. Somehow I think it would be less expensive than buying a Zonbu.

macadavy
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eWay

#14 Post by macadavy »

I think you'll find wider choice and equal or better prices @ http://www.ewayco.com/
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