Unveiled: Cheap comp to help people connect to web

Taiwan-based computer chip manufacturer VIA Technologies Inc. has unveiled an inexpensive and compact computer, hoping to help drive innovation in the compact computing market.

The PC, called the APC 8750, measures just 17cm x 8.5cm (almost half the size of Apple's Mac mini). It is designed with the main focus of getting people connected to the internet and offers an alternative to (more expensive) Windows PCs.

The APC runs a customized version of Google's Android operating system that is optimized for keyboard and mouse input.

At $49, it's not the cheapest PC on the market -- a $25 Linux-based computer called the Raspberry Pi was announced earlier this year -- but it provides people in developing nations, and those who want to experiment with technology without the restrictions of a high entry-level price, with another affordable solution.

"APC brings the familiarity and convenience of Android to the PC at a US$49 price point that will open up exciting new markets and applications," said Richard Brown, VP of

Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "Like a bicycle for your mind, APC will enable more people than ever before to explore the vast online universe."

The caseless APC is technically just a mini motherboard without a shell but it has everything a basic PC needs to function.

It features support for HD TVs, four USB 2.0 ports, one microSD slot, VGA and HDMI display ports, a 10/100 Ethernet port, Audio-out/ Mic-in port and a 15W power adapter. The APC is powered by an ARM processor and consumes around ten times less power than a typical computer.