Tiny Computer on an HDMI Dongle

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/01/intels-compute-stick-is-a-full-windows-or-linux-pc-in-an-hdmi-dongle/

 

This is pretty damn cool...turns any TV with an HDMI input into a netbook-quality computer for only $150. Just plug in a USB hub for your kb/mouse and you're good to go. SD cards for hard drive space expansion.

 

I could easily see this being the future of desktops as tech continues to get smaller & smaller.

 

Once things of this size can play decent looking PC games it's all over.

Nice, I'll probably get one for Kodi/xbmc.

i'm calling it as a false flag operation.

looking at it differently it's just a smartphone without display, and it seems like ~5 inch smartphones are something essential that won't go away. they're already relatively easy to connect to an hdmi monitor. so regarding this particular intel dongle the question is "why do i need it when i got my smartphone?". (android is not as compatible as windows atm but it's just a matter of time till microsoft puts a real windows in their phones).

Edited January 9, 2015 by eugene

  On 1/9/2015 at 9:22 PM, eugene said:

looking at it differently it's just a smartphone without display, and it seems like ~5 inch smartphones are something essential that won't go away. they're already relatively easy to connect to an hdmi monitor. so regarding this particular intel dongle the question is "why do i need it when i got my smartphone?". (android is not as compatible as windows atm but it's just a matter of time till microsoft puts a real windows in their phones).

I believe you asked and answered your own question.

why is the linux version crippled? also, my RPi does similar for 1/4 the price.

Edited January 9, 2015 by kaini

That thing looks too heavy to just sit in a USB port; I'd be worried about it warping either the dongle (and what's worse than a warped dongle! ) or the TV that it's plugged in to. You could of course use a USB extender, which makes me wonder why not just sell it like that....but what do I know?

  On 1/9/2015 at 11:10 PM, auxien said:

That thing looks too heavy to just sit in a USB port; I'd be worried about it warping either the dongle (and what's worse than a warped dongle! ) or the TV that it's plugged in to. You could of course use a USB extender, which makes me wonder why not just sell it like that....but what do I know?

 

it's HDMI, which has a stiffer connection than USD in my experience. HDMI inputs tend to fit nice and snug whereas USB ports always leave room for jiggle.

dongle

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2015/01/intel-compute-stick-specs-ubuntu-version

I'd assume you can get an HDMI cord that has female/male ends so you don't have to plug it directly in.

 

I'm more excited by this as a concept of a tiny cheap computer that's so easily plug-and-play than anything I'd functionally want at its current specs.

 

Also the benefit over a smartphone is full KB/mouse support and not using some propriety Apple iOS shit.

  On 1/10/2015 at 3:42 AM, StephenG said:

dongle

"What shall we do tonight'

 

"I'm coming round with my new dongle"

"Yeah babe, get over here and put your dongle in my slot."

 

"We can play Spelunky."

 

"Mmmmm....yeah."

no-one read the article huh?

 

 

it ships with an extension lead

thought this was about a tiny dongle on an HDMI computer, oh well

if you're a linux kind of person, or even if you're not (they have pre installed with very easy to use guis) you can get raspberry pi computers that have HDMI ports for pretty cheap these days. You can also run PD, Csound and super collider on them, a few companies have already made eurorack modular synth modules like Quibit. disclaimer: I did not read the article

it makes sense the windows version is quite a bit more costly, but wouldnt it be possible to buy the ubuntu stick, format and install windows? or is it some complicated embedded shit?

  On 1/11/2015 at 4:41 PM, isaki said:

it makes sense the windows version is quite a bit more costly, but wouldnt it be possible to buy the ubuntu stick, format and install windows? or is it some complicated embedded shit?

Depends what the processor is - I imagine it'd be an ARM processor in which case the closest you'd be able to get is Windows RT, but even that would need to be recompiled specifically for the hardware by Microsoft.

 

Quite happy with my setup though, possibly not the most productive thing but it's on the telly via HDMI so I'm happy -

 

  On 1/11/2015 at 3:54 AM, John Ehrlichman said:

if you're a linux kind of person, or even if you're not (they have pre installed with very easy to use guis) you can get raspberry pi computers that have HDMI ports for pretty cheap these days. You can also run PD, Csound and super collider on them, a few companies have already made eurorack modular synth modules like Quibit. disclaimer: I did not read the article

 

a quad core Intel Atom CPU is a bit more capable and compatible than a single core ARM CPU. Yup, the Raspberry Pi is capable of a lot, but they're not capable of running x86 code.

 

  On 1/11/2015 at 4:41 PM, isaki said:

it makes sense the windows version is quite a bit more costly, but wouldnt it be possible to buy the ubuntu stick, format and install windows? or is it some complicated embedded shit?

 

The Linux version is crippled, has lower amount of RAM. It may be possible to install Windows on it, but it wouldn't be good.

very nice. Its an x86.

the thought of running windows on a stick doesnt sound appealing though so i think the linux version might be more worth the money. its interesting tech but i cant see it catching on or anyone getting much use out of it besides browsing and homework. what else are computers used for that you dont need a much more powerful system to run (and that you cant do on your smartphone/tablet)? - gaming, music production, video editing etc.

this stick would be a complete waste of time and money as a server

  On 1/11/2015 at 6:21 PM, isaki said:

this stick would be a complete waste of time and money as a server

lol I don't think you know what you're talking about.

 

I'm running an ancient single core Atom 'net-top', which is less power efficient and less powerful, as a torrent server and FTP server.

 

This stick would be a great upgrade for my use.

yeh i dont tbh. but the thing just seems pricey when there are much cheaper alternatives with more flexibility, and wired internet

  On 1/11/2015 at 6:36 PM, isaki said:

yeh i dont tbh. but the thing just seems pricey when there are much cheaper alternatives with more flexibility, and wired internet

yeah, sorry man. you don't know what you're talking about.

 

I assume you're referring to the Raspberry Pi, or Beagleboard, or some other ARM based small computer that is a 'cheaper alternative'. If you indeed are, then the term 'flexibility' is only applicable in certain situations - as I've already mentioned, they don't run anything meant for x86 CPUs.

 

As far as wired internet, yeah that may be a concern for some. It would be for me too. However, a USB Ethernet adapter would fix that.

black or white though?