Despite our trepidation over VIA Technologies Inc.’s decision to call a certain handheld class of platform a “netnote,” VIA held a soiree at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Shenzhen Sept. 25, to spotlight partners and design wins in its new mini-netbook category. In fact, VIA developed the concept as part of what it calls its “Global Mobility Bazaar” (GMB) Alliance. When VIA says “NetNotes,” it means a netbook on the large size, with displays between 10 and 12 inches, capable of processing 1080p HD video.
Now there is no particular reason to insist that the moniker the company has chosen, or the alliance intended to spotlight NetNotes, has any less viability than similar efforts coming from Intel, Microsoft, Qualcomm, ARM, Google, or major OEMs. Still, let’s look at the relative centers of gravity. The “Wintel” orbital radius, like the Android/Chrome/ARM/Qualcomm radius, is akin to that of the giant planets. With all due respect, VIA has been known primarily for integrated chip sets and CPUs that are followers of Intel architectures, albeit a generation in back (though its 64-bit Nano is impressive). We might liken the VIA GMB to the planet Mercury, or maybe even an asteroid.
Still, big things might happen when the little guys come together, particularly given the high profile Taiwan-based VIA has in Asia. Oddly enough, however, VIA boasted of more than 40 partners coming to its shindig, but did not list any of its promised design wins, except to mention the participation of Blue Express Computer Engineering Co. The GMB event only listed a day’s worth of design seminars for VIA’s Surfboard NetNote reference design.
So is this a party, and is the Shenzhen region of China taking note of the NetNote? We can’t count any subdivided product category out of the small computing universe, but the guest list for the party might bring back the image of the asteroid in a solar system of giants.
Loring
