David Hayward looks at the smallest PCs around at the moment
In recent years, we've seen the PC shrink dramatically in size. From the standard desktop, to a far smaller media capable machine, to a box you could hold in the palm of your hand - and now to a PC that's not much bigger than a USB flash drive.
CES 2015 was where we were first introduced to the Intel Compute Stick, and since then we've had a slew of other manufacturers matching the specifications and adding one or two tweaks and features of their own. However, the USB stick sized PC wasn't invented with the Compute Stick; there have been various attempts in the past by Chinese manufacturers to squeeze enough performance into the dimensions of a stick. It's only recently, though, that x86 PC sticks have become a serious alternative to ARM-based Android ones.
Let's look at what you can get...
Intel Compute Stick
Since we've already mentioned the Intel Compute Stick, it seems a logical place to start. The Intel Compute Stick is a pocket-sized powerhouse, with an 1.33GHz Atom Z3735F quad-core processor, 2GB of 1333MHz DDR3L memory and a choice of either 32GB of eMMC storage with Windows 8.1 Bing Edition installed or 8GB of eMMC storage with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 16-bit. The Ubuntu version isn't available just yet, although it's most likely will be within days of us writing this.
The list of specifications go on, with an HDMI port built into the front of the stick (much as a USB port is built into the front of a USB pen drive), 802.11 b/g/n wi-fi, Bluetooth 4.0, a full-sized USB 2.0 port and a micro-SD card slot. You'll also find the power button and mini-USB power port that connects to a 5V 2A plug.
Obviously the good points of the Intel Compute Stick are the fact that you have a 'proper' x86 PC that is great as a media centre or for browsing, for as little as £125. Again, we don't yet know how much the Linux version will cost, but rumour is it's likely to be a bit cheaper. However, the processor can't be expected to match performance with a desktop, so heavier tasks are definitely out.
What you get is tablet-like performance, which although good, won't exactly allow you to play Fallout 4 when it's released.
Hannspree Micro PC
The Hannspress Micro PC has been available for a few months now, beating the Intel Compute Stick to the shelves and striking while the iron was hot and people were still going all potty over stick-sized PCs. It was a clever from Hannspree, especially since its Micro PC was exactly the same specification as the competition.
Indeed, you'll find the same Atom Z3735F quad-core processor, 2GB of memory and 32GB of eMMC storage with the Bing Edition of Windows 8.1 installed. There's no mention of a Linux version or that there will be one in the future, but the BIOS is an 8MB Insyde UEFI, so it does make you wonder if it's possible to install a version of Linux. We haven't tried it, and we don't know anyone who has, but we assume there's some clever person out there who has done it and posted the video on how you can too.
The Hannspree Micro PC came in a little more expensive than the Compute Stick. It was £170 or thereabouts, but can be bought from the likes of eBuyer for around £120. In the end, it all depends on whether you want an Intel product for £5 or you're perfectly happy with identical hardware from another manufacturer.
We liked our brief time with the Hannspree Micro PC. It ran well, and we had it as an emulation gaming machine for retro gaming.
MeeGoPad T02 Mini PC
Naturally, since the bigger names have stick PCs out and on the shelves, it's inevitable that the lesser-known Chinese imports will suddenly appear with versions with a similar spec.
The MeeGoPad T02 is one of the better imports you'll find on the pages of eBay and import sites. Not surprisingly, it's exactly the same specification, even down to the weight, as the Intel Compute Stick and the Hannspree Micro PC.
However, there is a small difference here that might make the MeeGoPad a little more tantalising than the competition. As well as the 32GB eMMC storage version, you can, if you're lucky, find a 64GB eMMC model floating around the corners of the internet.
And to add to that, the MeeGoPad T02 also comes with a choice of either Windows 8.1 or Ubuntu and the free update to Windows 10. Plus it has an extra full-sized USB 2.0 port.
Finally, you can pick one up for around £60 or £70 depending on where you shop and how lucky you are, and if you've managed to spot one before the price has been changed or 20 other people have got there before you.
So what's the catch? Well, although cheaper and with some better hardware, to some degree, the MeeGoPad T02 isn't exactly renowned for arriving at your door in a working condition. There have been reports of units shipped with no OS and no means to install one; faulty power units, no power units, wrong plugs, cracked casing and in one case (the forum entry for which has since been removed) shipped with a virus and various key-logging programs installed.
In short, order and use at your own risk. You can't believe everything you read on the internet, so maybe these were false reports.
Lenovo Ideacentre Stick 300
Not to be outdone, Lenovo has entered the PC stick market with its Ideacentre Stick 300.
The Stick 300 is due out toward the end of July, so you might be able to pick one up from a supplier in the U.S. by the time you get to read this. As to what the specifications are, surprise, surprise, we've got the all-too familiar Atom Z3735F, 2GB of memory and 32GB eMMC storage on to which you'll find a copy of Windows 8.1 installed with the option to upgrade to Windows 10 when that time finally comes.
The price is set to come out at around £149, which seems a little too expensive considering the competition is already out and available for a good £20 or so cheaper. Mind you, this is Lenovo, which tends to appeal to more corporate users as opposed to the average consumer, so maybe there's some kind of bulk or business deal involved depending on what your credit with the company is like?
Windows 8.1 Bing Edition
We've mentioned Windows 8.1 Bing Edition a few times here, but what is it?
The Bing Edition of Windows 8.1 is simply the cheapest possible Windows OS to have installed on any device. Previously, the cheapest edition was the Core Edition of Windows 8, but apparently when Windows 8.1 was released Microsoft changed things around a bit, because it likes doing that, and it made the Bing Edition the cheapest.
How cheap is cheap, though? Well, it's pretty cheap, in that it costs nothing for a computer manufacturer to ship a PC, laptop or any other device with the Bing Edition installed.
The Bing Edition, though, has a set requirement, in that the computer manufacturers have to ship the OS with the default search engine as Bing for Internet Explorer. That's it. You, as the users, once you've got hands on the system, can change to whatever browser and search engine you like, but the manufacturer has to make sure that the OS points to Bing for internet searches.
So now you know.