VIA VN1000 Media Chipset

The VN1000 is the new multi-media chipset announced by VIA. This chipset is based on VIA Chome 520 graphics and supports DirectX 10.1 which means that it is fully compatible with Windows 7. This mighty chip can play back 1080p videos flawlessly as it supports hardware acceleration (MP4, AVC/H.264, WMV HD and VC1).

It works on VIA NANO 3000 series of processors, making it a versatile desktop. Its maximum power consumption is 12 watts for the north and south bridges, but as-long-as it plays out 1080p videos fine, we are not complaining.

VIA-powerd Mini PC – Tiny Nettop!

This nettop, caught on shanzai scene, features a VIA C7-M (1.6GHz) processor and uses a VX700 chipset. It is one of the tiniest nettops we have ever come across. Also the sources over at Shanzai claims that another version will be out soon later in the year which will feature a VIA Nano processor and the VX855 media system processor.

Ports: S-video, VGA, 3x USB, 5.1 channel audio output, Ethernet and has the usual 160GB HDD / 1GB RAM and a Bluetooth / Wi-Fi combo.

Lenovo slashes prices of Ideapad S12 – for both VIA and Atom based models

Lenovo has slashed the prices of Ideapad S12, which is available in two variants:

• VIA Nano S2250 that runs at 1.3GHz clock speed
• Intel Atom N270 that runs at 1.6GHz clock speed

The VIA Nano one used to cost $449 whose price has now been reduced to $429. The Atom based S12 got a more significant price drop of $50 (from $499 to $449). There are no differences in both models other than use of different processors. Both come with 160GB HDD, 1GB RAM, 6-cell battery and Windows XP Home edition.

Samsung NC20 VIA powered netbook now available

If you still consider a 12-inch notebook-size netbook portable, then you will find this one interesting. Samsung NC20, powered by VIA Nano processor is now available at newegg at $549.

It comes with Windows XP home edition, 1GB RAM and 160 GB HDD. The VIA Nano processor is clocked to run at 1.3GHz. It runs at notebook-ish resolution (1280 x 800) and comes with a 6-cell li-ion battery.

[newegg link for SAMSUNG NC20]

The boring “Seamless Netbook” is now shipping

Seamless Corporation has made available their own netbook, which was being promoted by Tyra Banks. There is nothing so special in specifications and it looks like those cheap netbooks in the market.Although, one thing that makes it little different from the inside is the processor that it uses. It uses the VIA C7-M 1.6GHz Processor instead of the usual Intel Atom that is being used by almost all the modern netbooks.
Specifications:

* VIA C7-M 1.6GHz Processor
* 10.2 inch screen 1024×600 resolution
* 120GB HDD
* 1GB RAM
* Wi-Fi
* 3 cell or 6 cell battery
* 1.3 megapixel webcamera

Nvidia confirms ION platform for VIA; first ION product to be a Nettop

Nvidia has already made a lot of friends, who are interested in their ION platform. Now, another digitimes rumor says that they are developing ION-2 for VIA Technologies’ NANO CPU. According to the report, Nvidia was already in talks with the VIA to develop a low cost PC.

This is a great news as this will make the competition even more interesting than we originally thought. Earlier, we heard news of only Atom processors utilizing the ION platform. Now, that VIA’s NANO are also in the game, it can assure us only one thing: release of more powerful netbooks (and nettops) is imminent

VIA wants to rumble with the Atom processors! – Here comes the VIA Dual-Core

VIA made it’s first appearence in the netbooks field, when it was selected by the HP to be used in HP mininote 2133. It didn’t offer jaw-dropping performance, even on the model with the hightest GHz number: 1.6GHz Via processor equipped 2133 Mininote. Frankly speaking, it got over-shadowed by the much more efficient and powerful [...]

VIA and NVIDIA – no partnership

There are rumors that the partnership for Netbooks and MIDs between VIA and NVIDIA are now over. It would have been great if the deal between the VIA and NVIDIA was successful. It could have given rise to netbooks with powerful GPUs. Running more powerful Operating system and games would also have been possible. Blog [...]