VIA has a new motherboard with an embedded 500MHz VIA Eden ultra low voltage processor (it runs at one watt). The board is called the VIA EPIA PX500EG and, in order to show off its cooling abilities — even sans fan — VIA Arena is hosting the Naked Pico Challenge, where it’ll run a system loaded with Ubuntu and playing an MPEG-4 video continuously until it dies. Oh, and the heatsink will be removed from the processor. You can enter the competition by guessing how long the system will last without crashing. Apparently, VIA thinks it’ll crash before the 28th of May, as that’s the day the competition ends. The prize is a VIA ARTiGO builder kit. Pretty nice. via TechnoVoyance → Read More
Two new Mini-ITX motherboards from Intel have been recently spotted — the Eklo and the Fly Creek. The Mini-ITX segment has been long populated by Via and its C7 line of processors, which have catered to small form factor system builders, but Intel appears to be eyeing the low-cost, tiny desktop market as well. The Fly Creek motherboard can apparently support Intel’s GMA X3500 graphics chipset, which is somewhat powerful at up to 384MB of video memory, DirectX 10, and OpenGL 2.0 support. Via hasn’t been sitting on its hands, though, as it’s joined up with NVIDIA to offer the Via CN+GeForce platform, with support for DirectX 10, Vista, and Blu-ray HD for under $45. Whatever the case may be, we’ll likely be seeing more and more small-but-powerful computer systems over the coming months as this area heats up. Cheap, too. via Crave → Read More
HP‘s the latest computer maker to jump on the netbook bandwagon. (Netbooks, of course, are those super small laptops only good for things like surfing the Web and checking e-mail. They’ll be big in the cash-strapped education market.) Its Mini-Note, which should go on sale later this month, is powered by one of those Via processors we’ve been hearing a little about lately. → Read More
The graphics giant and the chipset maker are going to be working together just as Via is launching a competitor to Intel’s Atom chipset. The Isaiah chip is tiny and low-power, providing an excellent alternative to Atom for smaller form factors like UMPCs and small laptops. Nobody knows exactly what the terms are on this agreement because Via and Nvidia are being hush about it. Not sure why, it seems like something you might want to, you know, get out there. → Read More
Via is going to release 64-bit chips that “provide double the performance of the company’s current chips but consume the same amount of power,” according to CNET. The dual-core chips will run at 2GHz and are being marketed under the “Isaiah” moniker. → Read More
I caught word from the VIA rep at CES that Everex would be offering a 7-inch Linux-based notebook at Walmart and then Nicholas followed up with the official word. Now we’re hearing that Everex will follow the 7-inch version (shown above) up with a 9-inch version some time in June and will aim to keep it under $500. The 7-inch version will cost $399 so it might be safe to say that the 9-inch version will cost $499, in which case we’ll get into discussions like, “Why would I buy this when I can get an 8-pound Dell with Windows and a bunch of other stuff for $499?” Asus also plans to release 8- and 9-inch versions of its Eee PC by the middle of the year too and it looks like Acer’s getting in on the fun as well.. Exciting stuff on the horizon, folks. As Natalie Merchant always said, “These are the days we’ll remember, my friends.” She’s so wise. Also, she looks like my Aunt Jane. Everex to make CloudBook UMPC with 9-in. LCD [Computerworld] → Read More
Next to Everex’s Eee-killer, they had another product, more a prototype than anything, but with a similar form factor. This one has its baby touchpad in a more traditional spot, which made it look even more lonely and puny. It truly is only about as big as your “tab” key, though it works surprisingly well. → Read More
I found the VIA table last night, tucked way back in a corner and found out that Everex will begin selling an ultraportable Linux-based notebook similar to the one shown here. This one is from Packard Bell and runs XP — currently being sold in Europe — but the one we’ll be getting in the US within the next week or so will be manufactured by Everex and will run Linux. It’ll cost $399, too. The processor is a VIA C7-M running at 1.2GHZ, there’s a gigabyte of RAM, a 30-gigabyte hard drive, almost four hours of battery life, 7-inch screen (not a touchscreen) and, get this, DVI out instead of 15-pin VGA out. I came back to this table three or four times throughout the night and I’m excited to see what Everex is able to do with it. → Read More
Well look at this little peanut. It’s the ARTiGO kit from VIA. It’ll set you back $300 and includes a VIA C7 1GHz processor, 4 USB 2.0 ports, integrated audio and video with VGA output, support for up to 1GB of DDR2 memory and 2.5-inch hard drive, and weighs 1.14 pounds. You’ll have to bring your own operating system (not compatible with Vista), RAM, hard drive, keyboard, mouse, and monitor. The whole setup is fanless and tiny, so it might make a good second or third computer and I bet we’ll see this integrated into cars very soon. At 5.9"(W) x 4.3"(L) x 1.8"(H), it’d fit quite nicely into your standard DIN slot (with a little room to spare) if I’m not mistaken. VIA ARTiGO Pico-ITX Builder Kit A1000 [VIA] via PC World → Read More
Ah VIA. Thanks for shrinking computers. Your latest VESA-mounted PC makes me smile. Once used for commercial displays, VIA will be releasing a consumer version of a PC that can be attached to the back of any standard LCD monitor. So if space is at a premium or you just want to amaze your friends, this could be right up your alley. It’s available in 1.0GHZ and 1.5GHZ VIA Eden ULV chipsets, no fans, built-in wireless, VGA and DVI ports, S-Video out, 4 USB, Gigabit Ethernet, and a laptop or flash-based hard drive. Perfect for a gigantic-screen Car PC or, hell, mount one in the bathroom. Pricing and availability not yet set. I’d expect it to be somewhat affordable, though, coming from VIA. Like well under $1000, affordable. Introducing the VIA VESA Mounted PC [Technovoyance.com] → Read More
Say hello to the “world’s most power efficient x86 CPU” from VIA. It’s a 1-watt, 500MHz processor with a 400MHz frontside bus that can be paired with VIA’s CX700/M all-in-one digital media chipset to create a complete system that uses less than 10 watts of electricity. → Read More
Get ready for a tiny, tiny motherboard. If you’re looking to build, say, a system that fits in a box of Pop Tarts, the Pico-ITX form factor is right up your alley. Although it was announced way back in 2004, it’s just now becoming available in small quantities and should be plentiful very soon. It’s 3.9-inches by 2.8-inches and contains an embedded VIA C7 processor running at 1.0GHZ, support for up to a gigabyte of RAM, a SATA hard drive connection, four USB slots, and integrated support for MPEG-2/4 and WMV9 video. Sal Cangeloso has a full hands-on writeup of the new board over at Geek.com. First Look: VIA PX10000 Pico-ITX Motherboard [Geek.com] → Read More
When you stroll into Wal-Mart today to pick up some cheap meds and plentiful toilet paper, you may notice a new PC for sale in the electronics section. Everex has released the Impact GC3502, its new $298 “green” PC that uses 20W of power at most thanks to a 1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor. You won’t find any thrills on this system, though it’s not a piece of crap necessarily. A plentiful 1GB of RAM is included, along with with OpenOffice, an 80GB hard drive, DVD/CD-RW combo drive, and Windows Vista Home Basic. Don’t expect to be firing up any games on this PC. It’s designed for the budget-minded student or computer user that needs basic features like word processing and Internet browsing. No word if you get a monitor with this “green” PC, though I’d venture a guess that you do not. Everex intros $298 green PC with OpenOffice [Electronista] → Read More
At first I thought this lady just had a big ol’ pair of man hands, but turns out the VIA NanoBook UMD only measures 1.2×6.7×9 inches. The 1.87-pound notebook is a reference design manufactured in collaboration with First International Computer, Inc (FIC) and has been adopted by Packard Bell to appear in European markets as the EasyNote XS. It’s currently being shown off at Computex 2007. Powered by a 1.2GHz VIA C7-M ULV processor and backed by up to 1GB DDR2 memory and either a 30GB or 60GB hard drive, the little laptop can squeeze out up to 5 hours of battery life of Microsoft Windows XP or Vista Basic excitement. → Read More
As techies, there are few components that affect us more so than our chairs. Sitting in a chair for countless hours every day has a notable impact on our bodies. A crappy chair can cause immediate duress and also lead to prolonged pain. A quality chair, however, can do a lot of good for you. Proper lumbar support, being reasonably adjustable, sufficient padding, all these components play a role in pressure your body absorbs while sitting. Acquiring a proper seat should be a nobrainer, but it seems to be a value many people neglect. In this piece, we’ve taken a look at some of the dominant players in the ergo chair market. There are few better options out there, and thusly few more expensive. But we believe that if these chairs are out of your price range, the present features can serve as a guideline for your purchase of a personally realistic alternative. → Read More
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