Intel Compute Stick is a HDMI slot PC starting from $89

by Mark Tyson on 8 January 2015, 10:20

Tags: Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), PC

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Intel has been showing journalists at the International CES a new compact PC system called the Compute Stick. This HDMI stick format full PC system is powered by a quad-core Intel Atom Bay Trail processor and will be available for as little as $89 from March. If you watched our video published a couple of hours ago, 'Intel provides lowdown on new Broadwell-based NUCs', through to the end, you will have seen Intel's John Deatherage excitedly unpocket this diminutive computer (from 4m20s onwards).

Intel has published a page dedicated to its Compute Stick already. It tells us that it's a PC that is ready to go straight out of the box and buyers can choose between Linux or Windows 8.1 versions. Both flavours are powered by a quad-core Bay Trail Atom processor and sport built-in wireless connectivity, on board storage and SD card slots. It is perhaps a little bigger than some familiar HDMI-stick streaming products as it is 4-inches long. Intel envisions the Compute Stick appealing to consumers, businesses and embedded/kiosk purposes alike. Unfortunately the page lacks a full specifications list and pricing information so it was good to hear from Intel's John Deatherage directly at the CES.

Linux version costs $89, Windows 8.1 with Bing version costs $149

If the subheadline above looks irksome that's because it isn't immediately apparent that the Linux and Windows 8.1 versions of the Intel Compute Stick sport different hardware specifications. Deatherage told HEXUS that the Windows 8.1 with Bing version features 32GB storage, 2GB RAM and an Intel quad-core Bay Trail processor. Meanwhile Intel will be selling "a less featured version" with 8GB storage and 1GB RAM, with Linux pre-installed (probably Ubuntu) and ready to go. As Windows 8.1 with Bing is supplied to hardware partners for free the large difference in price looks mostly to be down to the hardware on offer.

Digging around a bit, further hardware details of the Intel Compute Stick include; the processor employed will be the Atom Z3735F, a mini and full-sized USB port are present, Bluetooth 4 is equipped, there's a power button. Tom's Hardware also said that, according to the Intel reps they spoke to, the stick would remain cool, even after being used for a while.



HEXUS Forums :: 13 Comments

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Hmm, if Intel can do that Linux stick for even £89 then I'd be very interested, although being picky I'd have liked to see two USB ports rather than one. I'm thinking that paired with a mini bluetooth mouse/keyboard combo and a cheap USB disk crate then this would be absolutely perfect as a back-of-set media player. Rip my DVD's to the disk crate and then put the originals safely away in storage. :D
Unfortunately the page lacks a full specifications list and pricing information so it was good to hear from Intel's John Deatherage directly at the CES.
I read this as Intel's rep name as John Death-rage and thought “wow, that'd be a killer name for a video game character”. Must go clean my glasses…
Why do these things have an HDMI plug on them? That looks too much to comfortably hang off an HDMI port, I would be happier if they fitted an HDMI socket and dangled it off a short lead.
Looks very interesting although I am highly sceptical that we will see a quad core, 2GB RAM, Win8.1 version for the equivalent of $89!
shaithis
Looks very interesting although I am highly sceptical that we will see a quad core, 2GB RAM, Win8.1 version for the equivalent of $89!
They aren't planning that, according to the article:
Linux version costs $89, Windows 8.1 with Bing version costs $149
Given the spread of low cost Windows tablets, I think that the $149 price point might be do-able.

I'm quite happy to save 60 bucks and get a more suitable OS - Windows8 still strikes me as too much like hard work to use.
I like this. Would prefer it had bluetooth as well as wireless connectivity but I guess I can attach a bluetooth dongle. We all need a review focusing on HTCP capability at HD and maybe even 4K