The Zonbu Zonbox is a $100 computer with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of flash storage, and an “Intel-compatible ultra-low power CPU.” The 4GB of flash memory is just for storing your software, as the device is useless without a $15/month subscription that nets you 50GB of storage on Zonbu’s servers.

The box is marketed as “environmentally friendly”, “hard to break”, and “The PC of the Future”. Yeah right. This thing is several steps backward from modern computing. Seeing as all your files are stored halfway across the web, you have to wait for them to stream over to your Zonbox. Unless your some sort of odd person who just surfs the web, and edits some text documents, the Zonbox isn’t for you. It can’t really do anything involving large files or serious disk activity. So you can forget editing video or recording podcasts.

Running linux, the Zonbox looks fairly user-friendly, and as Zonbu states on their website “Its compact and sturdy structure allows it to take the occasional knocks kids can deliver. And since Zonbu software is unbreakable it can handle stray keystrokes from little fingers, too. In the worst case scenario, just reboot Zonbu and it repairs itself.” The thing has no moving parts, and most of everything is stored on a web server somewhere. The thing’s tiny, about the size of a Mac Mini (a much better value by the way), and it lacks any moving parts or noise-making fans.

I think it’s only practical application is a web appliance. You put it in your kitchen or garage so you can check your email, look things up on Wikipedia, and keep an eye on news headlines without running over to you normal computer. The Zonbox is a really cool product, but it’s really only going to be useful for the following applications:

• Use as a web appliance.
• A main computer for someone who just surfs the web and edits text documents.
• A mini computer for a summer home or something.
• Businesses that require computers for checking up on company websites/databases (like libraries and bookstores).
• Cheap computers for internet cafes.

There are plenty of things the Zonbox is good for, but don’t confuse it with a normal computer.

Microsoft has for a long time liked the idea of Windows being subscription-based. What do I think? If they do, their little empire will collapse.

They’ve got to be kidding. Really, would you pay a yearly subscription…just for your computer to operate? You already pay $30-50 a year for your security suite, do you want to pay $100/year for your OS? If you stopped paying that fee, your computer would cease to function. Would you really agree to that? I wouldn’t.

Well, Firefox has attained a 28% market share in Europe. Globally it’s somewhere between 15% and 20%.

So, where do you think Firefox will stand in 2009? 87%, right? Tell those guys over at ZDNet that Firefox will have at least 50% by ‘09. Currently the majority says so (they have a poll). What do you think?

I think that by 2010 Firefox will be the leading browser, with Safari not far behind. Why Safari? Microsoft is dieing. Slowly, but surely. Apple will have the dominant OS by 2012, there’s no doubt about it. Yeah, you all know i don’t like Microsoft (despite not having a Mac…yet).

Look here’s proof that Microsoft is going to blow up in Gates’s face: (more…)

MyFirstMac.com, a new site that appeared on Digg today, is a great site for those thinking of buying a Macintosh. I’ve already read through most of their content, and I’m impressed.

I’ve wanted to get a Mac for quite awhile, and I can see that this site could be a valuable resource in the future.

Ah, the much-awaited iPhone is now available. It’s a great product from what I’ve seen/heard, even now that it’s out. Unfortunately, it’s not the sell-out we expected (AT&T didn’t help there…).

What a lot of people forget is that the original iPod didn’t sell-out either. It took quite awhile to catch-on. We’ll see, I predict that it will do to the phone industry as the iPhone did for MP3 players.

EDIT: Well, maybe they’re not doing so bad after all.