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Intel is showing off its Compute Stick mini-PC first to the lucky few attending the Intel Solutions Summit (ISS) in Abu Dhabi this year.
The chip maker’s entry into the mini-PC market is expected to launch in the UK in late April/early May, priced at around £180.
Intel has shared four ways in which its Compute Stick can be used as a value-led and powerful computing solution.
1. Business PC
Although laptops are getting smaller and lighter, mini-PCs such as the Computer Stick are gaining traction. Intel’s device is four inches long, and has up to 2GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage – which the firm says is ideal for targeting the business market.
Users can then plug-and-play to access the files and present them in a business meeting or conference.
2. Home Theatre
Users can benefit from the device’s built-in wireless connectivity when plugging the Compute Stick into any HDMI port. Online media such as Netflix and Hulu can be instantly streamed via any HD display.
3. Signage Solutions
The device can be used as a portable digital marketing solution.
Using a HD display, the Compute Stick can be used as a low-powered and digital alternative to banners, or bulkier signage regularly seen on kiosks, at events or in shop displays.
4. Desktop PC
There are a number of companies already on the mini-PC market including Hannspree, Ironkey, Stone and Dell all with the aim to offer a smaller,but powerful alternative to the desktop computer.
Intel fights its corner of the market with a quad-core Intel Atom processor, Windows 8.1 or Linux, micro SD input for additional storage and the ability to pair the device with a wireless mouse and keyboard.
By Phil Tottman, reporting from Intel’s 2015 Solutions Summit in Abu Dhabi
