There’s no denying that computers continue to get smaller each generation. It wasn’t even two years ago that Intel introduced the Next Unit of Computing, a miniature PC that strips a PC down to its basics but gives a solution in a very tiny footprint. Originally intended for digital signage the market has quickly found that consumers can just as easily embrace this; 2014 saw other manufacturers like GIGABYTE build on this with their own lineup. And then we saw Google and its Chromecast make that factor smaller, though it didn’t have all the features of a PC.
Our co-founder, Jason, recently brought up a rather quietly introduced piece of technology from Intel – the Compute Stick. Intel publicly isn’t giving much information on it yet – the new web site for the Compute Stick seems to reinforce the fact that they now realize that the embedded segment doesn’t have to just be for business, suggesting this could give much of what we love about hooking up to a NUC – but on an even smaller platform. But since Intel isn’t giving out much info, how can we start to figure out where this will fit in to the ecosystem?
Fortunately some things are out in the open if you know how to look. The Compute Stick page points to their ARK site but surprisingly, nothing there since they say to stay tuned. However, it seems they do have it already in there but blocked off because I got the following in the Ark search:
It makes logical sense that based on the information out already that STCK1A32WLC is the 32GB Windows 8.1 version and STCK1A8LLC is the 8GB Ubuntu (Linux, hence the L) version. But that doesn’t give us much about the insides, performance or power consumption. So on I kept digging and to my surprise, there were some benchmark results available for the Windows version.
The problem with benchmarks is that it doesn’t give us the exact CPU. Fortunately CNET recently reported that it is indeed packing a quad-core Atom Z3735F; originally designed for smartphone and tablets, the Z3735/6 SKUs are the only ones that support a 2GB memory and are of a low enough power consumption (matching the 2W we see in the benchmarks) that could even possibly be powered by HDMI. We can also see that at least the 32GB model is using a Samsung eMMC. It also makes sense based on existing devices like Zotac’s Zbox 320pi pico (at 4.5″ by a little more than 2″ wide) that if Intel reduces the peripherals on the board to a minimum that they could make this package fit on a roughly 1″ wide board, making it likely as wide as a Chromecast but an inch longer.
So, technical discussion aside – my enthusiasm for the mobile and embedded segment, which I mentioned in the CES SoC roundup, is about to grow a whole lot more. See, there are plenty of tests done on this CPU and architecture since we’ve seen them in tablets for a while; this gives us VERY encouraging information. Steam in-home streaming works just fine on similar hardware; Skype and other less CPU intensive tasks will run just as well as your tablet or smartphone. I am disappointed to hear this will not support 802.11ac, especially given that the higher bandwidth would be handy in applications such as game streaming.
Speaking of which – I think it’s important to remind that even the Chromecast required a USB power connection and so will this PC-on-a-stick. The MicroUSB slot is used for the power while the full-size USB port will allow connections of peripherals, such as a keyboard/mouse combo. For those that want to use the USB for something else, CNET also mentions that the Compute Stick supports Bluetooth – allowing you to use this for your keyboard and mouse and free up the USB for that gaming controller or video camera.
All-in-all it’s impressive to see we’ve gone from massive desktops to Raspberry Pis in such a short period. But where the Pi was great for builders, the Compute Stick makes any TV a potential monitor. For me, I can easily see me using this in hotel rooms (to stream the kids’ favorite content), preconfiguring and giving one to grandparents and great-grandparents to easily allow for Skype calls or many other uses. It just goes to show that when it comes to 2015 and mobile/embedded solutions it’s looking very bright this year.
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