Zonbu Brings Subscription Model to Notebook

The makers of the original subscription-based PC have brought out a notebook that can be had for $279 with a service contract.

Readers may remember what a stir the Zonbu desktop caused when it launched this past summer. The machine had a low up-front cost of $99, but only with a subscription to Zonbu, which gave buyers data backups and software updates for $14.95 per month. Suspicious as some spectators were, the formula apparently worked, since Zonbu has unveiled a new notebook computer with the same type of price plan.

The Zonbu notebook costs $279 up front with a two-year service plan, $379 with a one-year plan, and $479 if customers would like to buy an unsubsidized version with no discount and no plan. Like the desktop, Zonbu’s notebook runs a customized version of Linux that comes pre-installed with a basic suite of software, all of which automatically will stay updated automatically with the $14.95-per-month subscription.

While Zonbu makes few performance claims for the machine, they do advertise its low energy consumption, due in part to its efficient Via C7-M processor. Other components include a 15.4-inch LCD, 512MB of memory, a 60GB hard drive, DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, and Via Chrome9 HC integrated graphics.