In yet another report on the new Albatron motherboard which features a VIA Nano processor, I’ve come across this yet to be officially named product on Pahing.com.

The report has reiterated the specs that have already been released about this robust Mini-ITX Albatron offering. The motherboard uses VIA's VX800 single chip solution coupled with a 1.6GHz VIA Nano processor. The small board also offers D-sub connectivity, DVI and HDMI, along with a pair of PS/2 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet and 7.1 audio jacks.

The Pahing report stresses on the fact that the motherboard will make an ideal HTPC platform. The piece reads, “VIA Nano motherboard from Albatron, Albatron motherboard issue a summary, with a micro ITX form factor, VIA Nano processor-based 1.6 GHz, using VIA VX800 chipset. However, different from the reference platform from VIA Nano, Albatron motherboards use this graphic controllerS3, with separate memory with RAM for system memory…”

"This comprehensive end-to-end service gives rise to the 'GMB for Life' theme of today's event, and reflects the Alliance's ability to assist group members in providing products that can deliver the full benefits of a connected consumer lifestyle including online health services and free communications tools, along with a myriad of entertainment options."

That's from the Press Release issued last Thursday. The VIA Gallery now has a collection of photos from the event.

So the news is out! Lenovo's IdeaPad S12 is available for pre-orders on the Lenovo official website. The price is US$50 less than the Atom version and features the combination of a 1.3GHz VIA Nano processor with VIA Chrome9 HC3 graphics. Technical enthusiasts from various websites have published their views on the Nano version of the Lenovo IdeaPad S12. Let’s check some out:

The guys on ThinkPads.com are certain about the decent performance:
“Lenovo’s newest netbook, the 12-inch IdeaPad S12, is now available with the VIA Nano processor & chipset option mentioned at announce. This should actually provide a decent performance bump over Intel’s Atom chip, but will also of course use more power in doing so. If you’re curious as to the difference, hardware tech site [H]Enthusiast put the two platforms head to head, albeit in desktop form. This article should give you a good idea as to the differences.”

Trusted Reviews.com admired the combination of the Nano with Chrome9 HC3 graphics:
“The Nano CPU in question is the 1.3GHz ULV 2250 and comes paired with VIA's Chrome9 HC3 graphics chip. The combination should offer a tangible improvement over your garden variety Atom set-up, though at the expense of battery life. It might be worth spending that saved $50 on a second unit, therefore. 

Aside from the CPU and graphics chip on offer, the Nano-powered S12 is otherwise identical to its Atom alternative. The same 12.1in screen, with a 1,280 x 800 pixel resolution is present alongside 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive with Windows XP running the show.”

Softpedia also liked the plenty of choices given in the Nano version:
“According to recent reports, Lenovo has introduced the VIA-based IdeaPad S12 configuration as an alternative to the company's current Ion-based laptop, which is believed to have been delayed until later this year, in October. The VIA-based IdeaPad S12 will provide users with a choice for a VIA Nano ULV 2250 processor, clocked at 1.3GHz and paired with 1GB of DDR2 667MHz memory. The system's graphics chipset is also a VIA product, namely the integrated Chrome9 ICH3 solution, which is capable of enabling a 1280 by 800 pixel resolution on the 12.1-inch screen.”

On Engadget, they are more impressed with the US$450 price tag:  
“Wanna trade in some battery life and get a bit of extra speed in the deal? Lenovo is now offering its spanking new S12 netbook with a VIA Nano ULV 2250 processor and VIA Chrome9 HC3 graphics instead of the usual Intel Atom / GMA 950 combo, which should offer a little more pep (at least in some applications) and lops $50 off the original's spendy $500 asking price. The Nano setup will draw more battery than the Atom, so you might want to invest that extra cash in another battery if you can track one down, but at least the $450 price includes a 6 cell as standard.”

How to carry a portable version of your web browser with you?

How to take your desktop everywhere?

"I enjoy the portability factor of the mini-notebook and the way cloud computing has transformed computing experience on the move. Most of us have experienced various cloud apps on our mini-notebooks. It's great that these apps are accessible from anywhere on a mini-notebook. How about a cloud OS, which follows you everywhere? With Cloudo, you can take your OS with you while travelling. Find out how."

How to manage your finances on the move?

"Ever since I got introduced to Internet banking, I have been paying my bills online. I have different billers registered with different bank accounts. While this has helped me a lot, I need to login to each account and keep track of the transactions. When you are away from home and still want to keep track of your finances without having to login to different accounts, Rudder could be an option. You only need to check your emails on your mini-notebook! Check out Rudder."

VIA continue to release very specific motherboard designs this year, each of which target a particular design intention. The VB8002 it set up with the latest Nano processor, HD playback support, upscaling and heaps of lovely multimedia I/O options. Check out Roshi’s first look at this new board.

With the mini-notebook market gaining more momentum, VIA is swinging into action with the Global Mobility Bazaar tech forum, summer edition.

In the forum, industry leaders are expected to discuss the importance of 3G integration, market trends in the mini-notebook segment and various other issues.

3G will be one of the most important discussion topics. Not many mini-notebooks come with built-in 3G, but analysts believe that about three quarters of mini-notebooks will come with built-in 3G by 2013.

"The mission of the VIA GMB Alliance is to link the complex chain of hardware and software vendors, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and service providers that make up the mini-notebook market ecosystem," said Kevin YC Huang, Chairman of the VIA GMB Alliance.

Huang further added, "By doing this we create an environment where the 'GMB for Life' philosophy can flourish and inspire innovative devices that place the needs of the consumer first." Get more on GMB here.

An article on technouptodate gives a detailed account of recommended notebooks for the coming summer holiday (in the US).  Interestingly, the piece emphasizes both the Samsung NC20 and the Lenovo S12. Both models are powered by VIA Nano processors.

The article reads, “In an effort to rope in more demanding users, manufacturers are raising the bar by creating netbooks with larger screens (up to 12 inches) or full-size keyboards, or both. A prime example is the Samsung NC20. As of this writing, it's the only netbook with both a 12-inch screen and a full-size keyboard, though the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 will soon join this exclusive club.”

“Whether you're looking for a modest, low-priced netbook, a high-end graphics workstation, or something in between, here are our favorite models to put some sizzle in your summer….” Read the whole piece here.

The Samsung NC20 often confuses people. Should it be compared to mini-notebooks due to its ultra light nature and portability or it should be thrown in with notebooks due to its useful screen size, screen resolution and the commendable battery life? The guys on Wired.com have tried to summarize its good and bad points. Check them out.

“It's not quite a netbook, not quite an ultralight PC. Whatever it is, Samsung's NC20 is a dazzling feat of engineering: an extremely usable 12-inch laptop with epic battery life, impressive specs and a downright mystifyingly affordable price tag.

But the NC20 doesn't make depressing tradeoffs to achieve those scores. Battery life is three hours, 40 minutes (22 percent longer than the S10) and weight is just 3.3 pounds, comparable to the Asus Eee PC 1000H. All that and you get a 12.1-inch LCD, too, instead of the usual 10.2-inch netbook display.”

I didn't realize it but on Handingchao's blog he notes that the Samsung NC20 is a best seller on Amazon. The blog gives the well known mini-notebook, which features a VIA Nano processor, a good once over to figure out why it's top of the Amazon netbook sales list. We've listed a ton of reviews on this product already, so funnily enough I'm going to point out the cons he has listed: "The monitor is too glossy for my taste. ... The cover traps all your fingerprints, mercilessly." Yes, it's just too darn shiny! If that's all you can list as cons then it's not hard to see why it's such a good seller.

Sometimes, customers just want their own server. They don't want virtualization, they just want their own dedicated server for their own application. Off-the-shelf servers are usually powerful, huge and of course, power hungry! 

Last year, Dell’s Data Center Solutions (DCS) group considered this issue and in response to it, they designed the XS11-VX8 or Fortuna, which features VIA Nano processors.

"While hosting providers are the main focus of Fortuna, which is such a specialized product that you won't find it listed on Dell's Web site, other companies could use such low-powered servers as well. Oil-exploration and drug companies that use a lot of high-performance computing clusters could use a passel of the mini-servers to create a grid of low-cost computers that could be scaled bigger or smaller as necessary." – CIO.

VIA and 2001, the well known Stevenage based component distributor in the UK have signed an agreement whereby 2001 will sell a range of VIA embedded processor platforms, including a range of single board computers, across the UK and Ireland. Roy Greer, managing director of 2001, admits that the VIA products are ideal for the UK market. 

“Via will give 2001 a range of single board computers based on its proprietary range of low power x86 microprocessors. Board level products include the IA EPIA Pico-ITX mainboard, a small standard x86 platform measuring just 10cm x 7.2cm.” – ElectronicsWeekly.com