Look like Raspberry Pi, the affordable Linux based PC board for enthusiast is about to get some competition by way of Taiwan based VIA. While not well-known in the consumer space, VIA is a well-known motherboard manufacture that has been around the mini-pc space for a long time now.

One big difference is this time is the processor is based on the ARM instruction set instead of the usual x86 set from their VIA Nano processor line. The board is larger than Raspberry Pi but also packs a full gauntlet of IO ports missing from the former. VIA is even preloading the  board with Android and some apps.  Although, more than likely, the user they’re targeting will be loading their own OSs and building this into all manner of fun. The board is priced at a reasonable $49 but no information on where it can be purchased just yet.

 

VIA APC