Conclusion
The Intel Compute Stick proves itself to be a well-balanced product despite all the trade-offs that needed to be made between cost, connectivity, performance and size.
Intel's Compute Stick is a novel concept and a welcomed innovation for the PC market. The idea of a computer in a stick-like device isn't new; we've seen Android TV sticks on the market for several years, but a stick that offers an almost-desktop Windows experience is new. Despite the limitations of the form factor, in terms of power and temperatures, Intel has done well to create a portable turnkey Windows 8.1 desktop experience.
Intel's Windows 8.1 Compute Stick has a retail price of around $150 (£130) which seems reasonable, at face value, given the hardware on offer. Yet frugal consumers will note that they can acquire Chinese imitation devices of equivalent size and specification starting from £70 through major online marketplaces. In that regard it's clear that Intel has the leverage to bring the price down for consumers and should probably do so if it wants the Compute Stick to gain traction.
The Intel Compute Stick proves itself to be a well-balanced product despite all the trade-offs that needed to be made between cost, connectivity, performance and size. As a first-generation device the Intel Compute Stick isn't quite perfect but it does show huge potential for continuing to push the boundaries of the PC experience. We feel that in the coming months the market will likely be flooded with cheaper carbon copies of Intel's new device
|
The Good
|
The Bad
|
|
|
Compact and portable form factor |
Expensive relative to rival offerings |
HEXUS.awards
Intel Compute Stick STCK1A32WFC
HEXUS where2buy
TBC.
HEXUS right2reply
At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.
