Ever since Intel released the Compute Stick, we’ve seen a rush of tiny PCs built into HDMI dongles. Some take advantage of the free-to-manufacturers Windows with Bing offering, while others use more traditional free operating systems such as-Android and-Linux. While a number of stick PCs use Intel’s reference design and specs, these options stray from the norm to provide extra value. Related: Want a computer for less than a Benjamin? We’ve rounded up 10 options Updated on December 10, 2015, by Brad Bourque: Removed Archos and Tronsmart options, and added the RKM V5 and InFocus Kangaroo Mini PC. Intel Compute Stick ($105) The new standard for the PC on a stick, Intel launched the first iteration of the Compute Stick back in March of 2015, and ever since a number of other stick PCs have picked up on the standard specs and carried them. It’s powered-by a quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F processor and 2GB of RAM (1GB if you opt for the Linux version), and 8 or 32GB of eMMC storage. For connectivity, the Compute Stick attaches to a TV or monitor via HDMI, and has a USB 2.0 port, MicroSD slot, and a micro-USB for power. It has built-in Bluetooth 4.0 for keyboard and mouse support, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. Read our full review Available from : Amazon Best Buy-Jet Asus Chromebit ($85) If you’ve used Chrome OS recently, you know it has become a robust and utilitarian operating system with a large variety of uses. The Asus Chromebit puts-all of the functionality of the OS into a small dongle that plugs right into your HDMI port for less than $100. The Chromebit is powered by a RockChip RK328, an increasingly popular quad-core chip, and connectivity is bolstered by Wi-Fi, built-in Bluetooth, and a USB port. Chrome OS makes for an excellent portable computing solution, the cloud-based nature of which can’t be rivaled. Read our full review Available from: Amazon Asus B&H InFocus Kangaroo Mini PC-($99) While not technically a stick PC, the Kangaroo’s tiny form factor renders it perfectly suitable for many-of the same uses as the other systems on our-list. While the specs under the hood are fairly standard — it houses an Atom Z3735 and 2GB of RAM — the Kangaroo ups the ante by packing in a battery that allows the device to run for-more than-three hours of casual Web browsing. It’s a useful addition to an otherwise stationary product design, and is even less expensive than the Compute Stick. Read our full review Available from: Microsoft Store RKM V5-($98) While many hardware variations exist with Android instead of Linux or Windows, a few manage to shine above the rest. The RKM V5 is one of them, with a quad-core RockChip RK3288, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. For connectivity, the V5 boasts a pair of USB ports, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Best of all, the slightly-oversized V5 is capable of 4K video output with H.265 decoding. Available from: Amazon Lenovo Ideacentre Stick 300 ($100) Lenovo’s response to the Intel Compute Stick isn’t as much an improvement as it is almost a carbon copy. The Ideacentre Stick packs in the same internal components – including the same Atom Z3735 processor, with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It’s also available for $20 less than the Intel offering, with an optional bundle that includes a keyboard-and-mouse remote control. It’s not the most exciting stick PC, but represents a solid option close to the reference design. Available from: Amazon Best Buy Walmart



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