Compute stick for the wife

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Tmcwilliams

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#177811 14-Aug-2015 21:25

Hi, I'm just wondering what peoples thoughts are on the Intel compute stick running Windows 8.1. Unfortunately today the wifes desktop decided to die; it is 7 years old and we can't see any value in fixing it and I have plans down the track of building my own desktop so the wife would get my one. My question is would an Intel compute stick be good enough to use as a stop gap till she gets mine? She would be using it mainly for running Microsoft Office 2010, inventory/invoice software with NCH, browsing and Facebook. I understand that the Compute stick will never take the place of a full pc but we are on a limited budget and need something ASAP. Thanks in advance.

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#1366673 14-Aug-2015 22:03

Ignoring the opportunities for double-entendres, would an HP Stream 7 be sufficient given the requirements and budget?

mdav056

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#1366674 14-Aug-2015 22:22

Maybe. Probably fast enough for the features you want (but I don't know about inventory/invoice). But for decent use, I think you would need a powered usb hub, and a wired keyboard and mouse. I use a Microsoft multimedia keyboard with trackpad with mine on a TV, and that is OK, though I've always hated trackpads). So the cost might go up if you don't have these already.

One thing I'd recommend -- if you go the stick way, don't upgrade to Win 10 -- there are still too many fishhooks in that. Mine got bricked.

gml

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#1366675 14-Aug-2015 22:26

How about an entry-level NUC? (assuming that the monitor, keyboard, and mouse still work)

A very capable device, as long as you don't want an optical drive.

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Tmcwilliams

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#1366680 14-Aug-2015 22:37

Thank you for your replies.

She would like Windows 10 as she found a good invoice/inventory software on my 10. So a compute stick won't be good on 10 then so maybe we won't go there then.

NUC I did look at, they seem cool too. Will look into it more thanks.

HP Stream not what she wants :(
She ideally wants a desktop or mini desktop with 10 on it LOL WOMEN!

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#1366692 14-Aug-2015 23:02

Tmcwilliams: ... NUC I did look at, they seem cool too. Will look into it more thanks....

I'm running an Intel i3 NUC with 4GB RAM and Windows 10 - works perfectly.

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Tmcwilliams

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#1366699 14-Aug-2015 23:23

After talking it over with the wife, we have decided to limit the amount of debt we get ourselves into by upgrading my old hp pavilion g6 sandy bridge i3 by adding more RAM and taking it to windows 10 and setting it up on her screen at her desk. She is happy with that short term so that keeps her quiet LOL.

Also means I gave save more to my build after Christmas :)

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#1366706 15-Aug-2015 00:18

Good solution. If later you look for something newer, certainly an Intel NUC or a Gigabyte BRIX (same size) would be ideal.

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Jase2985

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#1366728 15-Aug-2015 07:13

Tmcwilliams: After talking it over with the wife, we have decided to limit the amount of debt we get ourselves into by upgrading my old hp pavilion g6 sandy bridge i3 by adding more RAM and taking it to windows 10 and setting it up on her screen at her desk. She is happy with that short term so that keeps her quiet LOL.
Also means I gave save more to my build after Christmas :)

how much ram do you currently have?

you might see more benefit/gain by going to a SSD than upgrading the ram

Wade

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#1366745 15-Aug-2015 08:23

I read somewhere on a tech blog that the Compute stick will ship preinstalled with W10 soon which shuld mitigate at least the W10 upgrade brick risk

Tmcwilliams

19 posts

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#1366795 15-Aug-2015 11:00

Laptop currently has 4GB of RAM, it can be maxed at 8GB and it has a free slot, so was looking at heading to PB Tech today to get some more. We have looked into the a SSD but now the wife with her ever changing mind has decided she wants everything that was on the old machine to go on the the laptop so that's near 600GB LOL so with that it starts to get costly!
I agree about the NUC they are pretty awesome I have a friend that's using an i5 based one and swears by it.
Thanks for of your advice and will let you know how i got on moving this lappy to 10 :)

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#1366831 15-Aug-2015 11:36

Tmcwilliams: Laptop currently has 4GB of RAM, it can be maxed at 8GB and it has a free slot, so was looking at heading to PB Tech today to get some more. ...

Win 10 runs perfectly well on 4GB of RAM. Why do you need 8GB?

I have Win 10 on one old PC with 2 GB of RAM - it still works.

EDIT If you do eventually buy an NUC, remember that this requires a special low-voltage type of RAM - you can't just use RAM out of an old laptop.

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Tmcwilliams

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#1366873 15-Aug-2015 13:17

Only 2GB on Windows 10?Awesome I thought I would go the overkill path just to cover bases so I don't end up in the dog house LOL. Also got a cooling pad for it, cleaned the vents and backed up. Since it only cost me $120 today I'm happy, saves the credit card for taking a hiding.
I have read about the low voltage ram I'm still a little undecided on the NUC myself. I'm still stuck in the mindset that I want to a full size desktop again since they have been part of my life for so long I am having trouble letting go lol.
May I add at PB Tech Christchurch are awesome, the service is very helpful with good lay out. No pressure to buy there too :)

Jase2985

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#1366917 15-Aug-2015 14:16

how much of the 600gb does she regularly use? you could always used a small 2.5in external hard drive to house the info, or have it on a network share.

a 240gb hdd will be good for the laptop.

ive got a old laptop running vista and it has 4gb of ram and its super slow, my plan is to install a Small SSD, say 240gb then install win7 and then upgrade to win 10. should be super snappy after that.

Tmcwilliams

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#1367097 15-Aug-2015 18:36

TBH I have no idea why she uses 600GB, I have a 120GB SSD in my desktop for OS with a 1TB 2nd HDD for storing photos, music etc and I am not using anywhere near 600GBs combined lol!
If I was using the lappy still I would slap a SSD in it with a 240GB but she is most insistent on having the 1TB kept in the laptop, so my hands are tied.

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#1367116 15-Aug-2015 19:15

Have you considered a 1TB hybrid drive?

Good speed, and cheaper than a pure SSD (I use one in my NUC (hint, hint)

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