Everex teams with VIA for NC1500, the "world's most energy efficient notebook"

We try not to get embroiled in these "world's bestest" sort of arguments, mainly due to the sort of research and journalistic integrity it would require on our part. That's why we're not going to get caught up in this "world's most energy efficient notebook" claim of VIA and Everex regarding the new StepNote NC1500 from Everex, but it is what it is, and we sure wouldn't mind some sort of performance-per-watt showdown between Intel, AMD and VIA, all vying for our holiday laptop dollar. However, the biggest news about the 1.5GHz VIA C7-M lappy is its price. Going for a mere $498, and coming to a Wal-Mart near you, the NC1500 packs in 512MB of RAM, a 60GB HDD, DVD burner, 1,280 x 800 15.4-inch LCD, 802.11b/g WiFi and includes VIA UniChrome Pro integrated graphics. Not a powerhouse by a long shot, but at 5.3 pounds, with a 1.5-inch to 0.9-inch taper, it's pretty hard to complain about this unit. Of course, we found a way: Everex includes a 3-cell lithium-ion battery that "averages +1.5 hours of mobile computing." Ouch.

[SHOTT3R @ Oct 26th 2006 11:10AM]

If the manufacturer is saying 90 minutes, then you're probably going to be wheezing to a stop a minute or two after you finish watching that downloaded episode of Desperate Housewives

[Jon @ Oct 26th 2006 11:39AM]

What is the reflection of? Hint: not the same computer.

[Jake @ Oct 26th 2006 12:43PM]

You're right. The screen in the reflection's a different picture than the one on the actual screen.

[Mrfreezie @ Oct 26th 2006 12:02PM]

What? I thought if it was the "worlds most energy efficient notebook", I thought that would mean it had a really long battery life.. What does that mean then?

[KazO @ Oct 26th 2006 12:11PM]

Everex? Where have they been? Anyone else remember "Everex - Ever for Excellence"? The last Everex I worked on was a 386!

[kOa7 @ Oct 26th 2006 12:43PM]

Everex rises from the dead.

I have a 1ghz Crusoe powered notebook which is basically unusable.. soooo slowwww... Totally disabling for some common tasks. I dunno how the Via chip compares, but I sure hope whoever is buying these computers knows what they're getting into.

[tracy @ Oct 26th 2006 1:05PM]

i use a via 1ghz eden and i have a old 1ghz crusoe tablet. the tablet is a lazy dog but it may be xp to blame. the via chip is pretty dang great and has been our house computer for a few years now. the via chip to get i think is the 1ghz v4 eden ulv which is supposed to have a tdp of 3.5w. the c7m they have in this laptop is still a 7w part i think then they probebly went cheap on the battery

[Juan @ Oct 26th 2006 1:18PM]

I'd love to give Via a shot (been itching for one of their mini-itx systems for awhile), but what's the point of an energy-efficient processor if they're going to use a cheapo battery? They should at least make a better battery an option with the purhase.

[John Stracke @ Oct 26th 2006 1:50PM]

Maybe the battery life is short because a small battery was the cheapest way to deliver low weight. What do you want for $500?

[Matt Peckham @ Oct 26th 2006 3:32PM]

Last year a similar machine was $400 at Walmart, and people were raping and killing to get em. Granted, this has a burner and a better screen.

Maybe I can get a Sony battery at a good price....

[james @ Oct 27th 2006 11:55PM]

Similar machine!? I have the $400 laptop walmart sold last Black Friday and it's nothing like that. It's a HP that uses a AMD Sempron 2800+ processor. It's pretty speedy, came with a cdrw, 15.4" LCD and 4-cell battery that lasts over 2 hours (8-cell batteries are available). I'm actually typing this on it right now.

[Oliver @ Oct 26th 2006 6:26PM]

John Stracke, 5.9 lbs isn't exactly "low weight", now is it? (yeah, I know, the Engadget story says 5.3 lbs, but Everex' product page says 5.9). And what do I want for $500? Well, something better than Everex is offering, that's for sure :)