Except the extra miniUSB port it's basically a Compute Stick

Jul 23, 2015 13:08 GMT  ·  By

Chinese device manufacturer Pipo has shown off its first PC-on-a-stick based on Intel Atom processor and will support Windows and Android software.

It's basically an Intel Compute Stick just like Lenovo's Ideacentre Stick 300, based on Intel's weird but undoubtedly unique concept. Pipo X1 features an Intel Atom Z3735F processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a microSD card reader, a micro USB port for power, and a full-sized USB port.

Pipo X1, however, decided to overcome Intel's lack of enough ports for peripherals, and added a second micro USB port meaning you can use a mouse and a keyboard, both plugged in the same NUC without needing a USB hub. Unfortunately, a USB-to-micro USB adapter might be needed. Bummer.

Ditching the silly fan Intel's compute stick had on its chip, Pipo also uses a metal case that has extra ventilation through tiny holes on the case itself. The metal frame has increased thermal conductivity, helping heat dissipate much faster than normal metal cases. Although heralded as a great, low-noise solution, we didn't notice any noise issues regarding Intel's mini fan. However, just like Intel, it sports an 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth.

Very little variation and a bit late

Pipo supports both Windows 10 and Android operating systems on their X1 sticks, being similar to Intel in this regard as it allows both Windows and Ubuntu on their systems to be installed. Default boot OS can be simply selected via BIOS settings.

Issues with PCs-on-a-stick, however, are plenty. They are also advertised as being the epitome of PC mobility when they actually make you carry just as many cables as laptops. They have worse processing power and DRAM memory than smartphones, and at least in Intel Compute Stick's case, they use the same radio signal for both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, making transfer speeds slow down to a crawl when having both turned on.

Apparently, Pipo wants this X1 Atom stick to replace an older Pipo X1 TV stick that ran on a Rockchip RK3066 processor. Although the upgrading meant copying Intel's design, it arrives in an already crowded market, with cheap solutions coming from Lenovo, while Microsoft's Splendo wants to attract Intel's potential customers to a similar but slightly different design.

According to NotebookItalia, no pricing or date when the X1 will arrive on the market is currently available.