Intel Compute Stick… Woo Hoo!
In the thick of the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) announcements came this little gem. The Intel Compute Stick with capabilities of running Windows 8.1 all while fitting in your pocket.
Every year the tech world experiences a brief moment of insanity when the new product announcements roll in from the Consumer Electronics Show. The 2015 CES is taking place in the high-rolling city of Las Vegas, Nevada where everything from shark tanks to book clubs participate in the innovation event of the year.
Big hits this year include bigger and better televisions, washing machines that will boggle your mind, as well as lightweight Carbon Flyer drones. But the product that really stood out as a ‘must have’ for me personally was the release of the Intel Compute Stick; yet another gadget to add to our list of favorite small devices. The device was quietly announced with a press release but quickly created a buzz. This small computer can pack all the punch of a tablet into the size of a pack of gum. Just imagine the possibilities for business, education and personal use!
Similar to Chromecast and Amazon fire, this small device can be inserted into your home television to deliver streaming content to your home. Much more than a media controller, the Intel Compute Stick also functions as a computing device.
Intel introduced the product as “a new generation compute-on-a-stick device that’s ready-to-go out-of-the-box” and claims that the device is “everything you love about your desktop computer in a device that fits in the palm of your hand.”
For $149 the small accessory comes with Windows 8.1, 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. In addition to the USB port, WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 support. The device uses a mini-USB connector for easy powering and is based around the Atom Z3735F Bay Trail processor. Rumor has it that Intel will later release a version of the device which uses HDMI power to avoid the hassle of a mini-USB.
Although the HDMI Compute Stick won’t be your prefered choice for gaming, it will come in handy as an easy and inexpensive way to use your television as a mega desktop screen, or an easy way for corporations to conduct business on the go.
For those who aren’t interested in the Windows connectivity, Intel is also releasing a lower cost Compute Stick using Linux Ubuntu along with 8GB of storage and 1GB of memory for only $89. The first Compute Sticks will ship in March of this year and I for one can’t wait!