Manufacturers' interest in the new dongle-format computers is no longer just about turning ordinary TVs into smart ones, but also about using these systems as compact terminals. Until now they have been little more than a curiosity, but this time Lenovo steps in, announcing its new Ideacentre Stick 300, built on Intel Atom hardware.
The first reason a person decides to replace their old tower with an All-in-one system is space. While hardware has advanced, integrating the computer into the monitor offers a tangible advantage for the average user. Those who need pure performance cannot afford to adopt a more compact format and must remain firmly in the territory of custom configurations. However, we cannot deny that the needle is slowly shifting in favor of smaller PCs. The latest expression of this trend is the dongle-format computers. Ten years ago it would have been crazy to talk about a PC as big as a USB stick, but that is the situation today. It is no longer just about streaming to the TV. Beyond the specifications and the final performance, these are complete computers with desktop operating systems, ready to be used.
Ideacentre Stick 300: A Closer Look
Lenovo's latest example is the Ideacentre Stick 300. After the Superfish catastrophe, the Chinese brand seeks to restore its image, but the Ideacentre Stick 300 does not seem like the most efficient way to do it. Setting that aside, the new computer presents itself as a more elaborate version of Intel's Compute Stick, though its hardware is identical: quad-core Atom Z3735F SoC at 1.33 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, two USB ports (one of them micro USB for power), HDMI connector, and microSD slot for those who need to expand capacity. Unsurprisingly, Lenovo chose Windows 8.1 as the operating system for the dongle, which can be upgraded to Windows 10 for free on July 29.
The most attractive point of the Ideacentre Stick 300 is its price. Lenovo has confirmed that the system will be on sale at the company's official store for $129, $20 less than the Compute Stick costs. July will be the release month, likely before Windows 10 appears.
