Transmeta to receive a boost from ViA

Portable computer maker ViA is today expected to announce plans to use Transmeta's Crusoe processor in its new-generation wearable PCs.

By editorial@silicon.com, 9 November 2000 15:40

NEWS ViA produces highly compact PCs that can be worn like a belt or vest, for use in applications such as surveying, inspection and agriculture. Designed with portable computers in mind, Crusoe is a x86-compatible chip offering low power consumption and low heat generation with speeds of up to 700MHz. Transmeta's chips are already used in notebooks from Sony, NEC and Hitachi. Sony's Vaio PictureBook is based on a 600MHz Crusoe TM5600 chip. But the company was hit by a double blow in November when Compaq announced it would not, after all, be using the Crusoe chip in its Armada notebooks, shortly after IBM postponed plans for a Transmeta-based Thinkpad. Despite this, Transmeta's initial public offering on Monday went ahead successfully, with shares trading at $21 each rather than the expected $16 to $18. By Candice Goodwin

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