Comments on: Ditch WebTV, get Zonbu http://bkendall.biz/2007/07/zonbu/ Technology Consultant Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:57:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: barnabas http://bkendall.biz/2007/07/zonbu/comment-page-1/#comment-45 barnabas Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:31:18 +0000 http://barnabas.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/zonbu/#comment-45 Mr./Ms. Payazin, thank you for your comment. I didn't mean to imply that because WebTV is behind the times that is why it should be replaced. As you yourself said, WebTV/MSN TV is deficient for more and more modern websites, especially ones that require Adobe Flash (like YouTube) and other such technologies. From what I've seen, I believe that Zonbu is better understood as the best of both worlds, midway between the power of a desktop computer and the simplicity of WebTV. I feel that Zonbu will be better for seniors than a computer because it is both easy to use and it automatically backs itself up over the Internet. Not even my $2,500 laptop does that, unless I configure and install special software. It's better than a WebTV because they won't need to buy anything else for serious web surfing, as you have the luxury of doing. I think the reasonable monthly price puts it within the budget of someone on a fixed income. All products become obsolete eventually. If one was to wait for the obsolescence-resistant computer, one would never stop waiting. Zonbu seems to straddle the line between appliance and web service, however: since it is a web-connected device, I'm sure the system software can and will be updated remotely. I will follow Mr. Zonbu's blog linked above to see if that pans out. (Note to Zonbu marketing folks who found this via search: ignore Payazin's objections to your peril. Most people won't tell you why they won't buy your product, they just don't buy it.) Mr./Ms. Payazin, thank you for your comment. I didn’t mean to imply that because WebTV is behind the times that is why it should be replaced. As you yourself said, WebTV/MSN TV is deficient for more and more modern websites, especially ones that require Adobe Flash (like YouTube) and other such technologies. From what I’ve seen, I believe that Zonbu is better understood as the best of both worlds, midway between the power of a desktop computer and the simplicity of WebTV.

I feel that Zonbu will be better for seniors than a computer because it is both easy to use and it automatically backs itself up over the Internet. Not even my $2,500 laptop does that, unless I configure and install special software. It’s better than a WebTV because they won’t need to buy anything else for serious web surfing, as you have the luxury of doing. I think the reasonable monthly price puts it within the budget of someone on a fixed income.

All products become obsolete eventually. If one was to wait for the obsolescence-resistant computer, one would never stop waiting. Zonbu seems to straddle the line between appliance and web service, however: since it is a web-connected device, I’m sure the system software can and will be updated remotely. I will follow Mr. Zonbu’s blog linked above to see if that pans out.

(Note to Zonbu marketing folks who found this via search: ignore Payazin’s objections to your peril. Most people won’t tell you why they won’t buy your product, they just don’t buy it.)

]]> By: Payazin http://bkendall.biz/2007/07/zonbu/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Payazin Tue, 31 Jul 2007 03:43:12 +0000 http://barnabas.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/zonbu/#comment-44 For $280 i would rather just buy a brand new computer instead of this lousy device which would be obsolete in a few months. Now what's all this about Webtv'ers not owning computers? I happen to be a Webtv'er and there's 4 computers in the house so don't tell me I'm behind the times. There's plenty of Webtv owners who also own a computer, some own more than just one and some of them have both Macs and Windows based computers. I choose to own and use Webtv for it's simplicity, easy email, quick weather lookup, etc. Now i really enjoy the feature where i sit on the couch and watch TV as i surf around. Of course, for some serious web surfing and different tasks that the Webtv won't handle i always have my computers. Now, let's not forget that some Webtv owners are senior citizens and some of these folks are the ones that tend to be afraid of computers so they rely heavily on their Webtv's. A device such as this Zonbu might fit the bill for awhile but then what if the product becomes obsolete?......Money thrown out the window! We have seen numerous "internet set top boxes" and other devices which have all failed and i doubt there will be one that will succeed unless that product is a full blow computer. Payazin For $280 i would rather just buy a brand new computer instead of this lousy device which would be obsolete in a few months.

Now what’s all this about Webtv’ers not owning computers?
I happen to be a Webtv’er and there’s 4 computers in the house so don’t tell me I’m behind the times.
There’s plenty of Webtv owners who also own a computer, some own more than just one and some of them have both Macs and Windows based computers.

I choose to own and use Webtv for it’s simplicity, easy email, quick weather lookup, etc. Now i really enjoy the feature where i sit on the couch and watch TV as i surf around. Of course, for some serious web surfing and different tasks that the Webtv won’t handle i always have my computers.

Now, let’s not forget that some Webtv owners are senior citizens and some of these folks are the ones that tend to be afraid of computers so they rely heavily on their Webtv’s. A device such as this Zonbu might fit the bill for awhile but then what if the product becomes obsolete?……Money thrown out the window!

We have seen numerous “internet set top boxes” and other devices which have all failed and i doubt there will be one that will succeed unless that product is a full blow computer.

Payazin

]]> By: mrzonbu http://bkendall.biz/2007/07/zonbu/comment-page-1/#comment-47 mrzonbu Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:34:27 +0000 http://barnabas.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/zonbu/#comment-47 You make some interesting points, and the commenters have raised some good questions, especially about the business model. I decided to see if I could use the Zonbu full time as my desktop PC. You can read more about what happens, and observations about the business model and hardware in my blog: http://mrzonbu.wordpress.com -Mr Zonbu You make some interesting points, and the commenters have raised some good questions, especially about the business model. I decided to see if I could use the Zonbu full time as my desktop PC. You can read more about what happens, and observations about the business model and hardware in my blog:

http://mrzonbu.wordpress.com

-Mr Zonbu

]]> By: “User” is a four-letter word « Parsing Mobile http://bkendall.biz/2007/07/zonbu/comment-page-1/#comment-46 “User” is a four-letter word « Parsing Mobile Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:34:43 +0000 http://barnabas.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/zonbu/#comment-46 [...] 25th, 2007 by barnabas The other day when I posted about Zonbu, I added a few sentences expressing that I’d rather call people who own and use a device as [...] [...] 25th, 2007 by barnabas The other day when I posted about Zonbu, I added a few sentences expressing that I’d rather call people who own and use a device as [...]

]]> By: barnabas http://bkendall.biz/2007/07/zonbu/comment-page-1/#comment-43 barnabas Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:04:49 +0000 http://barnabas.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/zonbu/#comment-43 Ryo, thanks for the comment. We may not be the target market for such a device/service combination, but I think a WebTV owner might be. They already eschew traditional computing models and they value utility over brand. Furthermore, many Americans live month-to-month, which is why I discussed equivalent cost per month above. Even if purchasing a low-power computer that relies on infinite service fees may not be totally financially sound (I think for the company it's brilliant), neither are inkjet printers, payday loans, carrier-subsidized mobile phones, or auto leases, to name a few similar concepts that are selling quite well here. I think this particular device may find a toehold among a niche, but in a country of 300 million, even tiny niches are lucrative. Ryo, thanks for the comment. We may not be the target market for such a device/service combination, but I think a WebTV owner might be. They already eschew traditional computing models and they value utility over brand. Furthermore, many Americans live month-to-month, which is why I discussed equivalent cost per month above. Even if purchasing a low-power computer that relies on infinite service fees may not be totally financially sound (I think for the company it’s brilliant), neither are inkjet printers, payday loans, carrier-subsidized mobile phones, or auto leases, to name a few similar concepts that are selling quite well here. I think this particular device may find a toehold among a niche, but in a country of 300 million, even tiny niches are lucrative.

]]> By: Ryo http://bkendall.biz/2007/07/zonbu/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Ryo Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:56:44 +0000 http://barnabas.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/zonbu/#comment-42 Barnabas, interesting article. Do you think their businessmodel will work? In other words, who would want a PC that has a little known desktop OS, and still pay plenty over the span of several years? Barnabas, interesting article.
Do you think their businessmodel will work? In other words, who would want a PC that has a little known desktop OS, and still pay plenty over the span of several years?

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