The concept of a compact computer in dongle form has arrived to stay, and with each new generation they manage to gain performance without exceeding their size. This makes it harder for manufacturers to stand out from their competitors, but the makers of MagicStick appeal to a series of superior specifications based on the latest Atom series, and offer 8 GB of RAM integrated.
The final form of a computer depends on the direct needs of the user. In many cases, the traditional PC was replaced with a tablet, a device more oriented to consumption, and without a great emphasis on the technical. If demands increase, a little higher we can find several hybrids, and finally we come across computers in dongle form, which many see as the evolution of all-in-one. After all, there is a certain appeal in hiding a complete computer behind a television, occupying nothing more than an HDMI port. The big question is how much hardware can be placed into such a computer before pushing it to the limit.
The MagicStick project aims to find out. At first glance we find a dongle computer slightly larger than usual, but once we know its specs, it's obvious that we're dealing with something different. First, MagicStick adopts one of the Atom SoCs from the Cherry Trail family, based on the Airmont architecture at 14 nanometers. This choice gives it access to features like 4K playback, but that's not all. We must also add dual boot mode between Windows 10 and Android Lollipop, its internal storage (from 32 to 128 gigabytes), and the maximum RAM, which in the most advanced model reaches 8 GB. Finally, we must not forget the presence of a USB 3.1 port, with a maximum transfer of 10 gigabits per second.
The MagicStick is on its crowdfunding round on Indiegogo, and with just three days to go it pulverized its original $50,000 goal, raising more than 900 percent. Several of the available models are sold out, and in general terms, there are two options: one with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of solid state storage for $99, and another with 8 GB of RAM and double the flash storage for $269. First deliveries in December.
