VIA presents $299 car PC kit

VIA and Mini Box presented a new high performance x86 car PC kit dubbed VoomPC. The computer will be priced between $299 to $399, depending on the specifications, and is based on VIA's EPIA mini-ITX motherboards.

The companies claim the VoomPC barebone platform is ideal for automotive enthusiasts and vehicle manufacturers alike to integrate a wide range of GPS navigation, communication, entertainment and information functionality into private cars or vehicle-dependent professional service vehicles such as law enforcement, rescue and commercial transport, where access to data on the road is essential.

All the critical power issues of car PC systems have been addressed. The VoomPC integrates the intelligent Mini-box M1-ATX 12V power supply unit to prevent system damage from power surges and eliminate car battery drain by monitoring car battery levels, even when the car is turned off. The energy efficient VIA C3 processor with its highly effective heat dissipation enables the VoomPC to consume between 15-30 watts, less than the dimmest car parking lights.

The VoomPC also features advanced audio control, with 'anti-thump' technology that keeps car amplifiers turned off while the PC starts, eliminating annoying speaker thumps and pops, while the VIA Vinyl Audio Six-TRAC audio codec enables stunning six-channel surround sound for a more authentic listening experience with greater depth.

Compatible with all standard Linux or Microsoft Windows operating systems and built within Mini-box's signature compact chassis of just 21cm x 25cm x 6.7cm, the VoomPC is equipped with rich peripheral connectivity, multimedia and telematics options afforded by the feature-packed VIA EPIA Mini-ITX mainboard, including USB2.0, Firewire, Ethernet, PCMCIA types I and II CardBus interface for GPRS/Wifi, S-Video, VGA and six-channel audio.