Monday, October 19, 2009

Mobile-ITX new super small PC motherboard form factor

This is a new standard PC motherboard form factor that is almost the same size as a cell phone.


http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2010384636.html
 

Via CEO Wenchi Chen revealed a business card-sized motherboard billed as the "world's first industry-standard form-factor for PC/phone convergence," at Computex today. The "mobile-ITX" board measures 3 x 1.8 inches -- half the size of Via's "pico-ITX" form-factor -- and runs Linux or Windows XP Embedded.
 
Via's mobile-ITX board prototype
(Click to enlarge)


The mobile-ITX board that Chen demonstrated this morning appears to be based on a 1GHz "C7-S" processor -- apparently a standard Via
C7-M shoe-horned into a 9 x 11mm package. The chip had not previously been announced. The mobile-ITX board also apparently uses an "S" (small) version of the CX700 integrated north-/south-bridge chipset. And, it appears to have an on-board DC-DC converter. Additionally, according to Via, the board includes a CDMA baseband processor chip, suggesting that the mobile-ITX board could be used as the basis for x86-compatible smartphones.

Motorola phone compared to mobile-ITX

According to a brief item at EpiaCenter, Via's mobile-ITX board will be available with 256MB or 512MB of RAM soldered on-board, and will run Linux or Windows XP Embedded. Even an embedded version of Windows Vista may be too much for the little board, however, a Via spokesperson admits.

Chen stated, "This prototype Mobile-ITX gives a glimpse into the future of ultra mobile devices and the real convergence of computing and communications. Yet this is only the start. We see the platform shrinking still further, with ever richer blends of functionality, that will truly make ultra mobility the normal way of enjoying our content and our communications."


Marketing Manager Tim Brown with Via's NanoBook UMPC reference design, and CEO Chen with mobile-ITX prototype
(Click to enlarge)



Given that Chen positioned mobile-ITX as an "industry standard," lots of technical specifications about the form-factor should become available shortly. Meanwhile, EpiaCenter has posted a few photos, and a video, here

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It was extremely interesting for me to read the article. Thanks for it. I like such topics and anything connected to this matter. I would like to read more on that blog soon.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone recommend the top Endpoint Security tool for a small IT service company like mine? Does anyone use Kaseya.com or GFI.com? How do they compare to these guys I found recently: [url=http://www.n-able.com] N-able N-central network security software
[/url] ? What is your best take in cost vs performance among those three? I need a good advice please... Thanks in advance!

Anonymous said...

It was rather interesting for me to read this post. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.

Anonymous said...

Rather cool place you've got here. Thank you for it. I like such themes and everything connected to them. I would like to read more soon.

Anonymous said...

You know, people always make comments when anything is predicted to take place in 2012, like “obviously that is if the faction is subdue here.” You do effectuate that the Mayans predict the creation will finish on Dec. 21 (or 23rd)? So in all distinct possibility if anything is going to encounter in 2012 there is solitary the slimmest chance that the everybody hand down secure ended first it happens.
[url=http://2012earth.net/stop_frighten.html
]your new chakra system
[/url] - some truth about 2012

Anonymous said...

Making money on the internet is easy in the underground world of [URL=http://www.www.blackhatmoneymaker.com]blackhat code[/URL], It's not a big surprise if you don't know what blackhat is. Blackhat marketing uses not-so-popular or misunderstood avenues to produce an income online.