Are cheaper, faster, more efficient netbooks on the way? Could be! Via’s low power CPU’s were the chip of choice for early netbooks. When Intel discovered that the netbook was encroaching on its high power and high dollar space, it introduced the Atom. A small performance advantage, and likely a little coercive marketing pushed the Atom into the marketplace as the standard netbook CPU. Not one to give up and go away, Via is fighting back with a faster more efficient processor. Chipzilla will certainly respond, meaning we’re likely to see big improvements and falling prices. That’s great news for Tightwads!

Thus far, the Atom’s been the processor of choice, but VIA today announced a new Nano that could change things. Now bumped up to the Nano 3000 Series processors, VIA’s latest offering is based on the 64-bit superscalar ‘Isaiah’ architecture, which boasts flawless playback of high bit-rate 1080p HD video.

The VIA Nano 3000 also supports CPU virtualization technology, SSE4, and security capabilities integrated in the VIA PadLock Security Engine.

“With the VIA Nano 3000 Series, we are launching our fastest and most power-efficient processors yet,” commented Richard Brown, VP International Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Coupled with our market-leading digital media chipsets, they enable the richest experience across a broad range of mobile and all-in-one system designs.”

Available at speeds from 1 GHz to 2 GHz, Nano 3000 Series processors deliver up to 20 percent higher performance using up to 20 percent less power than current Nano processors. (Tom’s Hardware)

Many Tightwad tinkerers really liked the Mini ITX form factor, but it has issues. The biggest problem with Mini ITX is it’s expensive for a Mobo that is a bit dated and light on features. The next generation improves on the original in that capacity and more.

Mini-ITX 2.0 retains the 17 x 17cm size of its predecessor, but now mandates a chipset capable of hosting a PCI Express x16 slot for a graphics card. The chipset should have sufficient integrated graphical horsepower to handle DirectX 9 graphics - the add-in slot’s present for folk who want DirectX 10.

Naturally, VIA hopes mobo makers and DIY PC folk will opt, respectively, for its own system chippery and CPU technology, such as - it said wherever possible - its Nano processor. (The Register)

I have high hopes the current trend towards smaller need not be costlier will make these new boards more Tightwad friendly. We’ll report when we see actual prices,

Tightwads had reason to celebrate recently when VIA announced it was entering the higher performance CPU market. A third competitor in the game will only lower prices and improve product from every manufacturer. When Via announced it’s new processor that was designed to better compete against Intel’s Atom detailed product specs were sketchy.

Today though, VIA is ready to disclose a few more details regarding the Isaiah CPU architecture. First off, Isaiah-based processors now fall under the Nano brand. Due to their low-power design, VIA’s Nano processors will initially be used to power a broad range of thin and light notebooks, but they will also appear in ultra mobile, mini-note type devices and small form factor, energy efficient “green” desktop systems as well. If you look back at our interview with Glenn Henry, we answer many questions regarding VIA’s Nano processors and have an architectural FAQ posted at the end. To reiterate some of what we cover in that piece, the VIA Nano is the first 64-bit, superscalar, speculative out-of-order processors in VIA’s x86 product line-up. It leverages Fujitsu’s 65nm process technology for enhanced power efficiency despite having roughly twice the numbers of transistors as the 90nm-based VIA C7 processor. (Hot Hardware)

While it’s too early to speculate how Nano will stack up against Atom in the real world, the specs would indicate Nano could have a real advantage. Also unknown: how will AMD respond?

Open Source has been about 95% software with 4% foray into hardware design. Well Via has expanded that range with an Open Source design for an entire laptop. That’s housng, Mobo, chipset, etc. Now before you miss it, lets just say this is radical. –

VIA Technologies, the self-proclaimed No. 3 maker of Intel-compatible processors, has unveiled a new “reference design” for ultra-portable computers based on the company’s own low-power chips.

Making a reference design is common fare in the high-tech industry. Chipmakers like Intel have been doing it for years as a way of proving the technical viability of a product concept. What sets VIA’s approach apart is that the company is posting the computer-aided design (CAD) files for its OpenBook PC under a Creative Commons license. Anyone with design skills and a burning desire to get into the PC business can download the files, modify the design and go into business selling ultra portables.

Taiwan-based VIA will even help aspiring Michael Dells find Asian manufacturers to do the hard work of turning those CAD files into real, plastic-and-silicon products.

VIA’s design is on the commercial end of a growing spectrum of “open source” hardware. On the other, more noncommercial end are hackable hardware kits like the Arduino platform, which was used by many exhibitors at the recent Maker Faire in San Mateo, California. Open source aficionados were also buzzing last week about the release of the OGD1, a development kit that could be used to create open-source graphics cards.

Fanciful? Not really. Think of it. A computer club or some 400-500 like minded souls could pool their resources. The Mobo blanks can be outsourced conveniently enough. Plenty of etching houses for that. There are even prototyping firms that would be willing to crank out the plastic housings for that size of run. It might be a minor hassle to find a SMT assembler to do the chip population of the board but somebody might be convinced to do it. The balance of the stuff would be std components bought off the shelf.

This is the ‘customized mass production’ that Alvin Toffler was talking about in ‘The Third Wave’ back in the late 70’s. For VIA, what’s their angle? Chip sales of course. The reference design is built on their chips. Anybody else? Well anybody that is in the OEM mfr business. Here you have a design royalty free. Plus its design seems to be targeted to the eePC end of things — a perfect market storm.

Anybody for a Tightwad Technica UMPC?

More at Wired.

While Intel routinely stomps them for a while every time they’ve gained an edge, AMD has directly benefited every computer user whether you own an AMD product or not. Even when Intel is ahead of the game, AMD keeps them honest on pricing. If you’re a bang for the buck buyer like us, Intel rarely wins. Even Intel buyers get a better deal because AMD is there.

How about another competitor? We think it’s about time. Competitive pressure makes better, faster, and cheaper the rule. A third player in the power CPU game should mean better, faster, cheaper cubed.

Via’s Austin, TX CPU design center has been focused on low power and embedded processors for most of their history, but that’s about to change. VIA has set their sites squarely on the higher performance market. It’s hard to say how much impact VIA’s new CPU’s will have, but the Tightwads are hoping for an Animal House style food fight between the two incumbents and the upstart.

VIA let slip a few details on upcoming and future generations of Isaiah class processors yesterday, in a move that hopefully heralds the launch of Isaiah-based products in the coming months. As DigiTimes reports, the upcoming Isaiah processor will operate at 2GHz with an FSB clocked between 800-1333MHz, a 128K L1 cache, and a 1MB L2 cache.

By the end of 2009, VIA will transition Isaiah to a dual-core, 45nm design. Per-core cache configuration is likely to be similar, but the Taiwanese manufacturer isn’t dropping any hints on how it plans to transition Isaiah to dual-core. Also unknown, at this point, is whether VIA will choose to adopt a multi-chip module (MCM) approach or an AMD “native” design. (Ars Technica)

We’re watching for a wave of announcements like this, but Acer is one of the first. Intel is targeting a market segment that has been dominated by Via. Things will get very interesting if Via strikes back.

On Wednesday, J.T. Wang, the company’s chairman said that Acer’s new low-cost laptop, or in marketing speak, “ultra mobility notebook”, should weigh in at just under a Kg, making it a veritable lightweight.

But, unlike other companies who wax a load of lyrical rubbish about their low cost lappies being created for the sole purpose of helping the third world, Acer is refreshingly honest and admits that it’s in no way interested in marketing its new baby to the developing world. Acer wants rich people to buy its laptops. Lots of them. (The Inquirer)

Yes, it looks like a sleek little box, just like the A-cult computers that get a definite no in the Tightwad Technica purchase price test. Scant details today, but it should sell like i-stuff when it hits the store shelves.

Somehow the world managed to miss the Asus Eee EP20 desktop when it was unveiled at CeBIT, but nonetheless, the first images have resurfaced showing off the desktop Asus promised us back in November. Not much is known about the device other than it will feature the Linux OS—but the word on the street is that it will boast a Intel dual core processor at 1.87GHz, a 2.5″ hard disk instead of flash and a price tag that should hover around 200€, or roughly $300. (from Engadget)

Everex delayed it’s distribution after announcing, but based an what is on the Everex, New Egg and Walmart sites, you can actually buy one today for $399.

Powered by the Via C7 processor and gOS Linux, this is bad news for Wintel if it sells. I’m betting it will, in numbers large enough to be disruptive.

More info at Everex.com