LAS VEGAS -- Intel's $150 Atom-powered Compute Stick was a great idea (an entire computer crammed inside of an HDMI stick), but it had real performance issues.
Intel's new Core M-powered Compute Sticks, unveiled at CES, are faster and more capable of running Windows 10.
The new Compute Sticks have a slimmer and sleeker design. It's still fundamentally the same product (you plug it into an display via HDMI and connect a keyboard and mouse to it), but it no longer needs a built-in fan to dissipate the heat from the processor.
There are two Core-M processor models: Core m3 ($399) and Core m5 ($499). Both models come with 64GB of internal storage and 4GB of RAM. The Core m3 comes pre-loaded with Windows 10 Home and the Core m5 doesn't come with any operating system.
For ports, the new Compute Sticks come with a USB 3.0 port, a USB Type-C Port and microSD card slot. Need more USB ports? There are two additional USB ports cleverly integrated into the power adapter.
More power and smoother performance are always welcome, but the new Compute Sticks are also more expensive. At $399 for the Core m3 model, it's more than double the Atom-powered Compute Stick, which is kind of bonkers, since low pricing is one of the reasons why anyone would even consider buying one.
For what it's worth, Intel is still selling Atom-powered Compute Sticks. The refreshed version comes with an Atom x5-Z8300 quad-core processor, 32GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM and Windows 10. It's slightly pricier than the old Windows 8.1 model at $159. And it's obviously not as powerful as the Core M models.
Intel says its Compute Stick strategy is now all about offering variety. The Atom model is its "good" version, the Core m3 is its "better" version, and the Core m5 is its "best" option.
The Core M-powered Compute Sticks will launch in February and the Atom-powered Compute Stick is available immediately.
