The fastest way to get OEMs to switch to your competitors’ chipset
Via, chipmaker of choice for the TabletKiosk eo, PaceBlade, and others, is stating that the first generation of Origami/ UMPC is underpowered, too big, and needs battery life to be good enough for consumers. Colin Brix, marketing specialist for the chipset platform group, thinks that current UMPCs were rushed to market and are not at their optimum. Marketing specialist? It seems to me that even if his statements are accurate should a “marketing specialist” be bashing the products of his customers? Maybe we’ll see more UMPCs running Intel chips in the future. I find Via’s comments especially ironic considering that portable devices running Via’s chipset are not exactly proven in the marketplace. What is this guy thinking?
(ComputerActive via Tablet PC Talk)
Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

Jk, that was exactly my reaction when I read it the news today. This guy is blaming on AMTek the bad results that the VIA processors has gotten in UMPCs. Just think about it, before the UMPCs was released there was not enough info about the new C7 processor and if you read VIA pages you will think that the C7 should have a lot better battery than the Celeron 800 MHz used in the Q1 which does not have Stepping at all. That’s one of the thing that eo owners like me can’t understand. How is that that a processor running most of the time at 400 MHz will have a worse battery life than one running all time at 900 MHz.
Especially when the battery on eo is WORSE than that on Q1, that “marketing specialist” seems to be confused.
But I agree that the current generation of UMPC is rushed.
Notice they’re saying the device, not the chipset, was rushed and if it was smaller and had a better battery, the device would succeed. They also blame the high cost on the OEMs. I read this as a block, albeit a rather late and blatant one, against the backlash of disappointment from buyers. Delivery of this message, however, is clumsy. No subtlety in their use of language. Perhaps they rushed this announcement to market. :)
Your aren’t kidding. How could any OEM trust Via. I mean really Via/Colin. You just said that the OEMs product is not up to task, the OEMs are greedy and the OEMs are the cause for the power issues!!! This is the kiss of death for Via. Someone at Via forgot they are they small fish in the big technology pond. Unless this is some kind of brilliant strategy, that the rest of us mere mortals can’t see, Via is really biting the hand that feeds it. Poor decision at best. Oh and Via, just so you know, early adaptors, i.e, consumers, don’t give a stink about your opinion of the situation. It seems to me that early adaptors know what they are getting into. Colin, do you want the products to be perfect before they go to market! Come one man, get a clue. I tell you what. You keep your opinion and I’ll take my chances with the Q1. As a matter of fact, here’s what else I’ll do to reward those silly comments. I won’t consider a Via driven device ever. See feel better!!! Arrrrghhhh. Marketing specialist indeed. Looks more like “egg on face let’s blame everyone else specialist” Good bye and Good Riddance!!!!!