ZaReason Upgrades Open Source PC Line
If you’re in the market for a Linux-ready PC, May 2012 has been a good month. First eRacks launched a new line of high-end desktops. Then System76 introduced high-power laptop. Now ZaReason, one of the few other big open source OEMs, has both released new hardware and upgraded a popular existing model. Read on for details.
Since its launch in early 2007, California-based ZaReason has carved a successful niche for itself selling computers with Linux preloaded. It offers a variety of distribution choices, including all the big names: Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Fedora, Mint and Debian. (Other distributions are available upon special request.) And it continues to expand, with its website mentioning a slew of international sites as “Upcoming ZaReason Locations.”
New Linux Hardware
Beyond physical expansion, ZaReason has also been busy updating its product line. Most recently, it introduced a small form factor desktop PC, the MediaBox 5330, touted as the perfect device for a variety of applications ranging from a media server to gaming to a home theater. Combined with open source media platforms like Myth TV, it could be used to do a lot of cool stuff.
In addition, ZaReason has upgraded its Limbo 5660 desktop, adding a more powerful CPU and increasing support for peripheral devices. Meanwhile the company continues to promote the machine, which is priced beginning at $499, as a best value model for Linux users.
This focus on pricing from a Linux OEM is particularly notable, since traditionally it’s been hard to find budget PCs with Linux preinstalled that cost less than those subject to the “Windows tax.” One has typically had to choose between buying low cost hardware from one of the big OEMs and installing Linux oneself, or shelling out a little more cash to a small vendor like ZaReason in exchange for guaranteed Linux compatibility and support. But if the open source OEMs continue to prioritize price, these circumstances may change.
Pricing is also an area to watch given that ZaReason apparently has set its sights on the “masses,” rather than just Linux geeks who are more likely to see the value in ZaReason’s offerings. As CEO Cathy Malmrose wrote in an email:
Do us a favor? Take a minute to sit back and relish how amazing it is that we can now build hardware specifically for GNU/Linux and ship it out to people who are not devs, not geeks, not techies – people who want computers that have better security, stability, support, all of it. People who want their computers to just work.
It may take a while before large numbers of “ordinary” people start their PC shopping with a brand like ZaReason instead of one of the large corporate OEMs à la Dell. But if the open source hardware market continues to move in the right direction, that day could come.
“People who want their computers to just work” will never buy Linux, pre-loaded or not. For $499 you can also buy a Windows PC from BestBuy, or for $100 more get a MacMini.
They’ll return a Linux PC the first time they have to manually unpack a tar file, and enter CLI commands to install java updates, flash or other packages.
It won’t “just work” after 30 days. Sorry.
I should add: the economics also changed today with Google announcing the Samsung-built ChromeBox (a Macmini sized desktop box) and new Chromebook.
Syncs with your chrome acct, uses standard google apps, and works out of the box.
The ChromeBox — $329.
Jeff, you haven’t used Linux in several years if you think that installing Java or Flash requires manually unpacking a tarball or using the command line. In Ubuntu, they’re a few (graphical) clicks away– and in Mint they’re pre-installed. Really, Linux is probably a better candidate to lay claim to “just working” than Windows, especially now that people are familiarized with the concept of a software repository (or “App Store”) via smartphones. Hardware support is also pretty frustration-free these days.
@ Justin N:
+1
I’ve installing Linux distributions for years now, if you pick the right one you’re almost entirely hassle-free. Java, Flash, multimedia codecs, DVD playing, hardware support (if you’re not totally bleeding edge) all works out of the box.
The only shortcoming is the gadgets, which usually bring Win/Apple only software with them (which is the reason for having an Android-phone that plays nice with the PC over a regular web-interface.
My father in law is happy, my sister in law is happy (as well as her husband) and my wife is happy. I’m happy. The “computer-illiterate” however mostly just stick where they are, even if from the objective viewpoint they stick with only the second best option for them … that’s the way it is.
ZAReason’s biggest problem is their ridiculous prices on their laptops. They want nearly $2000 for a 17.3″ laptop – four or five times more than I can buy one for locally with Win7 on it. It’s a pain to track down a Linux-friendly laptop, but I’m not paying a $1500+ premium for a pre-installed Linux laptop.
That’s just nuts.
I bought two desktops from ZaReason. Then I went back for a netbook. Their web site was only partly functional (which I noticed only after going back to see why I had no order confirmation). Their system had my address wrong and I could not change it.
After emailing them about the problems I basically got blown off for complaining too much, so I canceled my order. Then the “CEO” thoughtfully followed up with a spiteful email.
So I went and bought a netbook named “Starling” from a competitor. Different experience. Totally different. Totally professional. The second company even turned up a problem with my credit card that my card issuer hadn’t even noticed.
Guess which company I will never, ever even think about doing business with again. Go on, try.
Really, the “Windows tax” is mostly irrelevant if you buy from a major retailer. They don’t pay full price to Microsoft for Windows. If you buy from a small OEM and have to shell out $150 for Windows 7 Professional, then yes.
The prices at Zareason aren’t unreasonable for the desktop PC (I haven’t checked the laptop prices.) But since they’re building the box for you and are in business to make a profit, you’ll still pay more than if you build a box yourself from the same components.
I also note they don’t include a DVD drive by default – hey, you STILL need a DVD drive these days. They’re not like floppy drives which are completely obsolete. You CAN get by with USB flash drives if you know how to install a distro or repair a system with one – but most end users don’t. Most end users are still more familiar with CDs and DVDs.
Price out their $549 5660 with a DVD drive, 2TB HD, 8GB RAM, and a high-end processor like top-end Intel CPU and you’re still at slightly over $1,000, about on par with most other companies for the same specs.
You can buy a Dell Core i3 with 4GB RAM and 500GB HD for $400 with Windows 7 which beats the Zareason specs and price INCLUDING the Windows tax.
Still, it’s nice to see a company building custom Linux boxes for those who don’t know how or don’t want to take their valuable time to do it themselves.
Jeff@2: You mentioned the Samsung Chromebox in your comment. The VAR Guy is equally intrigued and plans to buy one.
-TVG
Hi, thanks for this news.
One more question: is there a directory of FOSS OEMs ?
Thanks in advance
Bests
Not only is there a “Windows Tax” but I feel that Microsoft may actually pay some OEMs to install Windows on their offerings.
Additionally it is safe to say that Linux manufacturers don’t have the benefit of scale to haggle down the prices for their hardware. If they were all the size of Dell, Apple and Sony I’m sure we’d find that they would be cheaper.