Still some fuel left in the 2015 edition of COMPUTEX, and as expected, many of the novelties on display revolve around Windows 10, which will make its official debut on July 29. Many of the new systems adopt an extremely compact format, and the most recent example is the Quanta Compute Plug, a computer that at first glance could be mistaken for a power supply.
It is already a habit to see Microsoft promoting its operating systems using hardware that manufacturers hope to sell in the coming months, but this time, the difference is that with Windows 10, multiple formats have entered the battlefield. Of course, the responsibility is not all on the operating system; the latest generation of components has launched a frontal attack on power consumption, giving rise to designs that a few years ago would have been impossible to keep in thermal balance (read: "avoid spontaneous combustion"). Laptops redefine thinness with each new model, HDMI dongles incorporate slightly more robust processors, and now we have functional systems in a volume similar to a power supply, as is the case with the Quanta Compute Plug.
Under the Hood
Unfortunately, the specifications of this computer have not been disclosed, but the people at Quanta have built compact systems before, including their own NH1 dongle that uses Atom hardware. The chances that the Compute Plug has absorbed the NH1's components are quite high. However, what we can confirm is the presence of two USB 3.0 ports and one HDMI. The goal of the Quanta Compute Plug is to turn TVs with HDMI input into Smart TVs, and command input is done through Cortana, with the assistance of a remote control or a Bluetooth headset. By connecting directly to the power outlet, the Compute Plug eliminates the need for an external power supply, something current HDMI dongles cannot escape.
Windows 10 and Availability
There is no doubt that Windows 10 will be inside, but something tells me it won't be a full "desktop" version, but rather follow the line of Windows 10 IoT Core, compatible with other compact computers like the Raspberry Pi. I also imagine that availability of the Quanta Compute Plug will be limited, since its market role is similar to VIA today, developing computers for the industrial and commercial environment. Anyway, other names more accustomed to general consumers might launch a similar product if Windows 10 delivers as promised...
Source: PCWorld
