Google Chromebit and Intel Compute: PCs on a Stick

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Micro PCs have been a thing for a while now. The Raspberry Pi has been the poster child for tiny computers for the past several years, but it’s about to face serious competition from two of the world’s biggest technology companies.

Chromebit will face off against Intel Compute
Source: Intel

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) is launching the Chromebit — a complete Chrome PC on a stick. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) is countering with the Intel Compute, a quad-core PC running Windows 8.1 stuffed into a four-inch-long stick.

Both devices are pocketable and plug into the HDMI port of a TV or monitor to turn it into a full-fledged PC. And both are priced to seriously undercut traditional desktop PCs.

Google Chomebit

The Chromebit is being manufactured by one of Google’s hardware partners, Taiwan’s ASUSTeK Computer better known to consumers as ASUS.

Google’s Chromebooks (powered by Chrome OS) are already eating into the educational market. So a cheap option for home use is a natural extension of Google’s strategy to displace the traditional Windows PC. Given Chrome’s light hardware demands and the fact that just about every home has an HDTV, an HDMI stick is a natural choice.

Expected to retail for less than $100 when it launches this summer, the Chromebit means even families that can’t afford a Chromebook can get a PC in the home via their TV. The pocketable, plug-and-play device can be easily moved between displays as well, so owners can move their Chromebit from room to room or even different locations with no fuss.

Google Chomebit Key Specs:

  • Rockchip quad-core CPU
  • 2GB RAM, 16GB storage
  • Runs Chrome OS
  • 1 x USB 2.0 port
  • Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac Wi-Fi
  • HDMI video output
  • Available in silver, blue and orange
  • Roughly the “size and shape of a memory stick”

Intel Compute

Taking on the Chromebit will be the Intel Compute. Also expected to arrive this summer (it’s currently undergoing FCC authorization), the Compute is aimed at consumers, small business and kiosk applications.

While the Google Chromebit can get away with a smaller form factor (and ASUS has opted for funky color schemes to make the device seem even less intimidating), the Intel Compute can run Windows 8.1, a much more demanding operating system.

This means the Intel Compute is larger and more expensive ($149 for that Windows version or $110 for a Linux model), but it’s also more capable.

Intel Compute Key Specs:

  • Quad-core Intel Atom CPU
  • 2GB RAM, 32GB storage
  • Full-sized and microUSB ports, microSD card slot
  • Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
  • HDMI video output
  • Runs Windows 8.1 (Linux version available)

Google Chromebit and Intel Compute Move the PC Battle to the TV

It’s no secret that Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Google have been fighting a battle for the consumer PC market.

Google has been incredibly successful in pushing inexpensive Chromebooks in the education market. Besides displacing Windows laptops and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPads in the classroom, Chromebooks and Chromeboxes were making inroads into homes. And there is a real risk of kids who grow up using Chrome continuing to use it at work, never migrating to Windows PCs.

In response, Microsoft has been reducing Windows licensing costs, giving away Office subscriptions and pushing hardware partners to release cheap Windows laptops — like the HP Stream — in an effort to combat Google’s Chromebook efforts. The company also resorted to a two-year “Scroogled” negative ad campaign that trash-talked Chrome.

With the Chromebit, Google is ramping up the fight just as Microsoft is hoping to see a cycle of upgrades to Windows 10.

Companies facing the cost of buying a new PC in order to upgrade to Windows 10 could simply throw away everything but the monitor and keyboard, plug a $100 Chromebit into the monitor and have a new PC that’s capable of handling general productivity tasks. And it would do so using Google’s free software instead of paying for Microsoft Office.

The use case for the Chromebit is even more compelling for consumers. If your kid is already familiar with Chrome from school and you need a home PC, a $100 Chromebit that plugs into the TV is pretty attractive.

Look for Microsoft to start pushing the Intel Compute as the war over inexpensive PCs moves from Chromebooks vs. laptops and Chromeboxes vs. mini PCs to Chromebit vs. Compute. PCs on a stick will take the fight to your TV.

As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

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Brad Moon has been writing for InvestorPlace.com since 2012. He also writes about stocks for Kiplinger and has been a senior contributor focusing on consumer technology for Forbes since 2015.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2015/04/google-chromebit/.

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