Spotted: Mini-Notebook Running VIA’s Isaiah/Nano Platform

It is about time! I finally spotted a mini-notebook running the VIA Nano (formerly code-named Isaiah) architecture. Suspected to go head-to-head with Intel’s Atom, VIA will replace its C7-M processor found in mini-notebooks with the x86 architecture, which is promised to boost functionality and performance of netbooks and UMPCs. It is also supposed to minimize power requirements and save on battery life. VIA also plans to integrate the chip into higher-powered notebooks and desktop machines.

The Nano processor was on display inside a TongFan Imini SI Mini-Note. The system will probably not make its way stateside, but it sure looked cool. I actually loved the trackpad that is flush with the palm rest.

I can’t say I was really able to test the performance of the 1.2-GHz VIA Nano processor since the OS was completely in Chinese. However, programs certainly launched within seconds. I did a boot-up test, and the system seemed to be running two OSes. The final boot time was around 54 seconds.

VIA also annouced today at a joint press conference with NVIDIA that the two will team up to work on Mini-ITX systems from VIA. I didn’t make it over to the press conference but check out TweakTown’s coverage. There is no word on when VIA will make the chip available to mini-notebook manufacturers.