VIA Unveils SurfBoard Platforms and Turnkey Systems for New NetNote Category

[btarunr]

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms,　today announced additions to its growing range of VIA Surfboard mainboards along with turnkey systems designed to enable a new category of NetNote mobile computing devices.

A mashup between the netbook and the traditional notebook, the NetNote combines the portability and affordability of a netbook with the functionality and HD entertainment capabilities of a notebook in a light, high performance clamshell mobile device with long battery life, screen sizes of between 10.2" - 12.1", and VIA NetNote Systemsupport for flawless playback of high bit-rate 1080p HD video.



"NetNotes are illustrative of the type of device that is possible after artificial restrictions on screen size, resolution and connectivity are removed," said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "Light, snappy ultra mobile devices with notebook-level functionality are what consumers want and what the NetNote category of device provides."

Combining the highly-integrated VIA VX855 media system processor with a choice of VIA C7-M ULV or VIA Nano processors, two new VIA Surfboard NetNote Edition Platforms provide high-quality, energy-efficient and feature-rich "ready to build" solutions for manufacturing NetNote devices.

Additionally, complete VIA NetNote Turnkey Systems offer customers a quick, low cost approach to entering the mobile computing market or expanding their current product portfolio. Along with support for hardware acceleration of a broad variety of leading video standards including H.264, MPEG-2/4, VC-1 and WMV9, NetNotes come with a host of other advanced features including an optional HDMI port and a choice of integrated 3G connectivity modules.



About VIA NetNote Platforms and Systems
Designed for 10.2"-12.1" NetNote devices, the feature-rich yet highly power-efficient VIA Surfboard NetNote Edition Platforms feature a choice of VIA C7-M ULV or VIA Nano processors supporting an 800MHz FSB, combined with the VIA VX855 media system processor with its support for a wide range of digital media technologies and I/O.

The advanced graphics of the VIA Surfboard NetNote Edition Platforms is powered by the high performance VIA Chrome9 HCM IGP and allows for flawless playback of 1080p HD video at amazingly low processor utilization levels. The boards also feature HDMI ports that can be used to deliver HD content to external displays.

The latest high definition audio is supported through VIA Vinyl 8-channel HD audio, and a rich range of connection options includes support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and 3G for unparalleled flexibility.

More information about the VIA SurfBoard NetNote Edition Platforms may be found on the VIA website here.

VIA NetNote Turnkey Systems not only boast the full functionality and larger keyboard and screen sizes more commonly found on standard notebook devices, but also incorporate innovative features such as an integrated, externally controlled MP3 player that doesn't require the user to boot the OS, an extendable aerial used to receive digital video broadcast from both satellite and terrestrial transmitters, and the ability to act as an FM transmitter allowing users to tune in car radios or cell phones to pick up NetNote broadcasts. More information on the VIA NetNote Turnkey Systems may be found on the VIA website here.

[Wile E]

Hmmm. Now I have another choice aside from ION. This is looking pretty good on paper. Lets hope prices are good.

[lemonadesoda]

What is it with VIA? They always have brilliant products but they always get them to market TOO LATE... and therefore it is never a success because the space is always staked out by other manufacturers.

[Frick]

Originally Posted by lemonadesoda

What is it with VIA? They always have brilliant products but they always get them to market TOO LATE... and therefore it is never a success because the space is always staked out by other manufacturers.

Not really true. They were pretty much alone on the ITX market for some time I believe.. Also, they are the only manufacturers of pico-itx. I actually thing they were the founders of this entire ITX thing..

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by Frick

Not really true. They were pretty much alone on the ITX market for some time I believe.. Also, they are the only manufacturers of pico-itx. I actually thing they were the founders of this entire ITX thing..

Those are very niche markets compared to the Netbook market.

[Baum]

People who bought VIA before won't again because of their driver BS
I've got 2 Machines from them VIA EPI Board and a Netbook running on VIA C7M ULV@1,6Ghz
both are fast comepared to their spec and feature unique things like HD Vide (x264 and MPEG2) Decoder and things like that BUT VIA DRIVERS are Worse than anything!
I had always trouble with them