PC maker Everex Systems Inc. launched a new energy-efficient laptop Thursday with a Via Technologies Inc. C7-M central processor inside, and aims to sell it at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for under US$500.

The Via microprocessor inside Everex's StepNote NC1500 provides 1.5GHz performance at very low power consumption of just 12 watts.

Without skimping on hardware, the laptop runs on Microsoft Windows XP Home edition, includes a 15.4-inch screen, built-in wireless-LAN, and a DVD burner, it gives users a 20 percent improvement in battery life over comparable systems, Via and Everex said in a joint statement. The two companies worked together to develop the design, attempting to create more nature-friendly products with lower total cost of ownership.

New IT products aimed at lowering power consumption have been popular over the past few years due to high oil prices. Although the price of a barrel of oil has come down recently to around US$60 per barrel, it stood near $80 this summer. Such costs are passed on to users in the form of higher electric bills.

The laptop employs Via Enhanced PowerSaver and TwinTurbo technology to save power. The technologies enable the system to transition between intermediate power states, extending battery life.

The notebook PC is available throughout the U.S. at over 2,900 Wal-Mart stores. It carries a price tag of $498.

Other specifications of the laptop include a 60G byte hard drive, 512M bytes of DDR2 (double data rate, second generation) DRAM (dynamic RAM), Via UniChrome graphics, a Lithium Ion battery and it weighs 5.3 lbs.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.