Before you just go around, shooting everything not-quite-living in the head, it's important to know who is friendly and who is not. In this thread, a discussion on various types of zombie; revenent, majicked, and viral. (Discussion is open for other classifications.)

Revenent: They were dead and now move again (by causes other than majicks). These are our standard clients, their shuffle back into the mortal coil is caused by a virus that many people carry, but only becomes active after a violent death. This type retains some to nearly all brain function. With very little counseling, they can be re-introduced into society and maintain healthy, law-abiding unlives.

Majicked: As implied, this group is risen by majicks, usually voodoo or necromancy. Necromantic zombie are tied in unlife to their necromantic master, and as such, the necromancer is responsible for their actions. PETU does not condone this practice of exploiting the differently dead.

Viral: Typically, these are not undead at all. Recent outbreaks were caused by the "Mad Human" (US) or "Rage" (UK) virus, the infected individual does not physically die. The virus causes brain swelling and fever which destroys an individual's personality, leaving only penchant for violence and hunger.

Zombieland has shown a different type of viral zombie. The zombies in this movie do show the major signs of having increased speed and strength, but major symptoms include a bloodied mouth and gums, along with a problem of drooling..."inside juices" made up of what seems like blood and liquefied organs. Teeth also seem to have been malformed to better rip through the ligaments and bones of humans.

Curiously enough, they seem to inhibit a human trait: choosing whether to be in a pack or alone, although this has only been mentioned briefly by impromptu zombie-pologist Bill Murray ("Zombies don't mess with other zombies").

Philosophical: A normal appearing human, but lacking in a soul. This is a technical term used for various thought experiments.

Kanki-chan, I was referring directly to the Z'land zombie with "Mad Human"

I realize, I should have edited my earlier post: I'm saying that Zombieland showed the "mad human" sub-class of a viral zombie, and has given a second example, next to the "Rage" Viral zombies, as seen in 28 Days Later. I didn't mean to put the Zombieland zombies into another classification, and I apologize for the misunderstanding

OIC, fair enough. I'll allow it. XD

Alternate vegetarian zombie says "Braaaaaaan"

Not sure what kind of classification it is (electronic virus?), but I was introduced to a rather unusual kind of zombie by Stephen King. In his novel Cell, a person is turned into a zombie if they happened to be talking on their cell phone when a "tone" went out, they exhibited similar behavior to the "mad human" sub-class of a viral zombie with the initial outbreak. If they weren't on their cell phone, but were using the speaker phone, then their brains were wiped and they'd basically be an amnesiac on a bad trip.

If those who got a full blast on their phones and turned into the "mad human" sub-class of a viral zombie, I'd leave it at that. However, after a day or so, these zombies begin to develop something similar to a hive mind--without a queen to control them--that they use to communicate with other zombies in the area. As they begin to create communities, a group who were unaffected by the tone manage to bomb one community. Other zombie communities find out about this and send out a message to the unaffected via dreams not to touch the zombie bombers--and if the bombers are harmed, then the zombies kill the person who harmed the bombers.

Towards the end of the book, the zombies ramp up their mind control abilities by making the unaffected think there is a safe zone in the north, there they coerce the unaffected to put a cell phone to their ear to get a blast of the "tone" and thereby becoming zombified themselves--without the "mad human" effects due to the hive mind is in better control.

IMO, "Cell"s infected are more like "Dollhouse"s 'butchers', where a technological influence, which was intended to cause people to become docile blank minds ready to be re-imprinted with a new personality according to Rossum Corps' design, instead caused many to become human pack animals who attack those who are not likewise effected, 'actual' (those whom still maintain their original personality) or 'doll'.