Tech Buzz: Intel to launch compute-on-a-stick device this year

Intel has come up with a compute-on-a-stick device which is pre-installed with Windows 8.1 or with Linux. The stick is four inches long and it carries a quad-core Intel Atom processor. Call it by its name, Compute Stick, or think of it as a neat way to do your work in a pocket-sized form factor. The stick has an HDMI output, a USB port and a microSD card slot.

Intel described the Compute Stick as having "built-in wireless connectivity, on-board storage, and a micro SD card slot for additional storage." The Intel Compute Stick launches later this year and the Intel Compute Stick site said to bookmark the page for details, product specs and availability information. What is already clear is that benefits include economy and convenience, as Intel said it offered "everything you love about your desktop computer in a device that fits in the palm of your hand." This is to be a low-cost plug-and-play transforming any large display into a functional computer. The mere fact that the stick has a Linux version for some is news in and of itself.

Lee Mathews in Geek.com ran through the differences between the stick's Windows 8.1 and Linux versions. With Ubuntu pre-installed, this Linux Compute Stick is to cost less. The stick will have just 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. Mathews said that was still plenty of power for basic computing tasks. The Windows with Bing version has 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage, and is priced at $149. Mathews said, "The Compute Stick could be a great way for schools, public libraries and other budget-constrained organizations to stretch their technology dollars." As for mobile workers, Nate Swanner in SlashGear noted that "If you were holed

read more at http://phys.org/news/2015-01-intel-compute-on-a-stick-device-year.html

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