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Intel unveils Atom-based Compute Stick

by on07 January 2015


4-inch dongle PC

Intel has unveiled a rather odd product that may be overshadowed by bigger CES announcements, but we find the Intel Compute Stick quite interesting.

Intel describes it as a “compute-on-a-stick” device that is ready to go out of the box. The Intel Compute Stick comes preinstalled with Windows 8.1 or Linux, with built in storage, wireless and a microSD slot for expansion. There’s also a micro USB port on board, along with a full sized USB 2.0 port.

The oversized HDMI dongle is about 4 inches long, but under the bonnet it’s a proper PC. Based on a quad-core Atom SoC, the device features 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, which is pretty much standard for Bay Trail tablets. However, we are not entirely sure about the silicon inside - we are probably looking at a Bay Trail part, but there's a slight chance that it could sport a 14nm Cherry Trail Atom.

This is not exactly a new concept, since a few Chinese vendors have been churning out Bay Trail dongles for months. However, this is the first time Intel dabbled with the concept under its own brand.

The chipmaker says the stick should enable thin-client solutions for small and medium businesses and can be used in lieu of embedded solutions to create lightweight digital kiosks. Just plug it into a touchscreen and you’ve got yourself a kiosk, or POS solution.

The emphasis is not on the living room, but the Intel Compute Stick should have no trouble doubling as an HTPC or streaming solution is many situations.

The device is expected to launch in mid-2015 at $149.

Last modified on 07 January 2015
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