Via Technologies, a developer of central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs) and various core-logic, on Tuesday unveiled reference design for affordable mobile computers based on Via C7-M microprocessors. The company hopes that with reference designs available to various computer makers its CPUs become more popular on the growing market of inexpensive sub-notebooks.

Via OpenBook platform is based on Via C7-M ultra low voltage 1.60GHz microprocessor with 800MHz processor system bus, Via VX800 chipset with built-in DirectX 9.0-supporting S3 Chrome 9 graphics core and single-channel DDR2 memory controller as well as 8.9” display with 1024x600 resolution. The reference design of Via OpenBook includes up to 2GB of memory; 80GB hard drive; Gigabit Ethernet; Wi-Fi local wireless network controller; a plethora of wireless wide area network options including WIMAX, HSDPA and EV-DO/W-CDMA; 2MP webcam; card-reader; 4 cell battery and so on. Via claims that reference OpenBook weighs under 1Kg.

The VIA OpenBook supports a wide range of operating system environments, including Microsoft Windows Vista Basic, Microsoft Windows XP, and various Linux distributions.

The developer claims that thanks to rich functionality of its core-logic, small form-factor notebooks based on OpenBook platform will have advanced multimedia functionality, including hardware accelerated playback of MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC-1 and DiVX video formats with high quality. Presently competing solutions based on Intel processors cannot provide many multimedia functions, particularly those that rely on powerful graphics processing engine.

“The Via OpenBook builds on the great success of the ViaNanoBook reference design launched last year, which has been widely adopted by numerous customers around the world. Our unique open approach to case design customization and wireless connectivity flexibility, coupled with the higher levels of performance, further extends VIA’s leadership in the global mini-note market,” said Richard Brown, vice president of corporate marketing at Via Technologies.

The CAD files for the external panels of the VIA OpenBook mini-note reference design are being released under the Creative Commons Share Alike Attribution license, giving customers the flexibility to bring their own innovative style and brand value propositions to the mini-note market segment. Through this flexible approach, customers can reduce product development costs and speed time-to-market.