Save space with the bolt-on PC

Chipmaker Via has come up with a novel way to clear deskspace - a PC that bolts on to the back of any standard display.

The vm7700 PC exploits the fact that displays built to the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) specification have four screw holes forming a 10cm square on the back for mounting purposes.

The Via system allows both a slimline vm7700 and a mounting bracket (or either) to be bolted on, turning the display into a fully-fledged PC.

The 18x29.8x2.6cm unit is powered by either 1GHz VIA C7 or a 1.5GHz Eden Ultra Low Voltage 1.5GHz processor and draws just 12 watts, so there is no need for a cooling fan.

It has an 11b/g Wifi option, VGA and DVI ports, an S-Video TV, four USB2 ports, gigabit Ethernet, a COM port and either a 2.5" hardi-disk or compact flash module or Compact Flash Module (DOM).

Via has not announced prices but says the module, targeted at system builders rather than end users, works out cheaper than a panel PC. Target markets include information panels for airports and stations, dynamic advertising, and "any situation where space management is key."