New low-energy PC an environmental effort

Hewlett-Packard and Via Technologies, a Taiwanese chipmaker, plan to launch a PC in China which they say runs on little energy, the Financial Times reported. The move is part of an effort to tap into demand for "carbon neutral" products in China. The computer runs on a Via processor that needs a maximum of 20 watts. The dx2020 will be marketed as a powerful computer with a low "total cost of ownership," the newspaper reported, quoting statments due to be released today. Via said demand for energy-efficient information technology could come out of fast-growing emerging markets. "This is a global trend but the sharp end of it is in China and India," said Richard Brown, Via vice-president. The Taiwanese group has a tiny share of the processor market compared with Intel and AMD. This is their first tie-up with a top-tier customer like HP after five years in business.