GottaLovet

In a WSJ article headlined, “A $99 Desktop Comes With Software, Backup and Too Many Catches”, it reads that for just $99 someone can own a desktop computer preloaded with full versions of 20 popular types of software. And when I read that, I thought to myself, “Oh, maybe $99 is some type of a hard drive and not an actual computer”. Then I kept reading.

This new PC, called Zonbu, from a new company of the same name, automatically recieves free updates of its software when new versions come out. It doesn’t require antivirus or other securtiy programs because it runs on the Linux operating system, which has attracted very few viruses or spyware programs. And it takes up almost no room-it’s a tiny little box.

Now heres the “tiny little box”…

So does this mean I have to buy a monitor? If so then it’s not a “complete” desktop. But for what I get it’s not bad for the price. Zonbu, the company that makes this very inexpensive desktop, says that there “overall goal is to vastly simplify the process of buying and using a computer. The idea is to make it not only more affordable, but also much less of a hassle and much more energy efficient.”

Now did someone say something about a “catch”? In the WSJ article it mentions…

The biggest catch is that the Zonbu computer doesn’t include a hard disk for storing files (that’s one reason it uses so little energy). Instead, all of your files are stored online on the company’s servers.  That offers several advantages, such as the fact that the files are automatically backed up. But you have to pay for online storage.

And there’s more…

In fact, to get the $99 price for the Zonbu computer, you have to commit to a two-year contract at prices ranging from $12.95 a month for a relatively small 25 gigabytes of storage to $19.95 a month for 100 gigabytes. If you opt to pay month to month instead of two years in advance, the Zonbu will cost you $249. 

I knew it was too good to be true. I thought I could buy a $99 desktop, not a $249 hard drive.

By comparison, you can get a Dell Inspiron 531s for just $529, after rebate. It has twice the memory, a DVD drive and a much better processor than the Zonbu. And it comes with a screen keyboard, speakers and mouse-oh and a 160-gigabyte hard disk that requires no monthly fee.

After reading the article, Zonbu may have some some pluses over the traditional desktop but I’m not easily swayed to jump on the Zonbu bandwagon. If you would like to read more about this $99 hard drive computer please click on the image.