The New Subscription PC Model

How would you like to buy your PC for $99 and pay $12.95 a month to use it? A new company called Zonbu is hoping a lot of people are willing to take the plunge.   They’re offering a cigar-box sized PC that runs Linux and uses only 15 watts of electricity, with the possibility of savings subscribers $10 a month on their electric bill.   It’s a green challenge, and they can back up their claims by having the first desktop computer to have a gold rating from the Green Electronics Council, in its Epeat, or Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, category.   The computer uses 4GB of flash memory, rather than a hard drive, comes equipped with six USB ports, and doesn’t use a fan. Running Gentoo Linux, it comes with Firefox, Skype, Open Office and several games. Data is automatically backed up on remote servers, to protect in case of crashes, and allowing remote access. Users are given 25 GB of online storage, with more available for purchase.   In many ways, it’s similar to the way cellphones are sold, and the company sees it as ideal for the second computer on the home.   “The market we want to target is the second PC in the home,” said Grégoire Gentil, Zonbu’s chief executive. “If you want to give a PC to your kids or put it in the kitchen, this is a good candidate.”   The system sold will be very basic, and sold without mouse, keyboard or monitor, all available as options. To spur developers to create applications for Zobu, the company is selling the computer to developers for $250, without any subscription charge.