Intel Unveils Compute Stick
Four-inch-long computer on a stick lets you boot a full Linux system from any HDMI display device.
As expected, this year's CES show in Las Vegas bubbled with a new generation of wearables and other mobile Internet gadgets, with every vendor claiming a “breakthrough” that would bring forth a revolution in tech.
One development that wasn’t quite so sci-fi but still could prove important to the Linux community was the appearance of the Intel Compute Stick. The Compute Stick is a whole personal computer on a stick – not just an operating system – you plug in to a home PC: It is a PC, with a quad-core 1.33GHz Atom processor, wireless networking, on-board storage, USB 2.0 and MicroUSB, Bluetooth 4.0, and a microSD card slot for adding additional storage capacity. Intel says the Compute Stick will provide “… everything you love about your desktop computer in a device that fits in the palm of your hand.”
Putting the operating system and working files on a USB stick, so you can plug it into any personal computer to boot a familiar system, has become quite common in the Linux community. The compute stick takes this paradigm a step further. You can plug the compute stick into any HDMI display device to transform the display into a full computer system.
Processor-on-a-stick systems have existed for some time, but a more-or-less complete system, with onboard storage and Intel marketing clout, could be an important development. The Compute Stick comes with either Windows 8.1 or Ubuntu Linux 14.04 LTS. The Linux version sells for only $89 – significantly less than the $149 for the Windows model. Before you celebrate about the economy of free software, note that the Ubuntu model comes with less RAM (1GB vs. 2GB for Windows) and less storage (8GB vs. 32GB for Windows).
Technologies like the Compute Stick could provide additional mobility for users who aren't interested in throwing their whole life into the cloud and prefer the benefits of local computing and storage. Intel is still awaiting FCC approval to release the Compute Stick to the public. The stick should go on sale sometime in 2015 – some industry experts estimate by March or April.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
First Release Candidate for Linux Kernel 6.14 Now Available
Linus Torvalds has officially released the first release candidate for kernel 6.14 and it includes over 500,000 lines of modified code, making for a small release.
-
System76 Refreshes Meerkat Mini PC
If you're looking for a small form factor PC powered by Linux, System76 has exactly what you need in the Meerkat mini PC.
-
Gnome 48 Alpha Ready for Testing
The latest Gnome desktop alpha is now available with plenty of new features and improvements.
-
Wine 10 Includes Plenty to Excite Users
With its latest release, Wine has the usual crop of bug fixes and improvements, along with some exciting new features.
-
Linux Kernel 6.13 Offers Improvements for AMD/Apple Users
The latest Linux kernel is now available, and it includes plenty of improvements, especially for those who use AMD or Apple-based systems.
-
Gnome 48 Debuts New Audio Player
To date, the audio player found within the Gnome desktop has been meh at best, but with the upcoming release that all changes.
-
Plasma 6.3 Ready for Public Beta Testing
Plasma 6.3 will ship with KDE Gear 24.12.1 and KDE Frameworks 6.10, along with some new and exciting features.
-
Budgie 10.10 Scheduled for Q1 2025 with a Surprising Desktop Update
If Budgie is your desktop environment of choice, 2025 is going to be a great year for you.
-
Firefox 134 Offers Improvements for Linux Version
Fans of Linux and Firefox rejoice, as there's a new version available that includes some handy updates.
-
Serpent OS Arrives with a New Alpha Release
After months of silence, Ikey Doherty has released a new alpha for his Serpent OS.