Design

ASUS VivoStick shows off a very portable design. It looks a lot like a regular USB stick and features a slim body. ASUS says the mini PC’s stylish design was inspired by a fountain pen – the provision of a cap for its connector probably proves this point. The VivoStick measures only 137.9 x 34 x 14.9 millimetres and weighs slightly less than 70 grams. With this build, you should not notice the device when kept in your pocket.

Performance

This new PC-on-a-stick is seemingly configured to outdo the Compute Stick in terms of performance. There were complaints about the slow performance of the Intel device which was fitted with an Atom processor from the Bay Trail family. But the VivoStick boasts newer Intel Atom CPU, codenamed Cherry Trail, expected to deliver better performance and processing speeds of up to 1.84 GHz in Burst mode. The processor is backed with manageable RAM of 2GB capacity. Graphics processing is handled by integrated Intel Graphics, meaning you should not expect this mini PC to run modern, highly demanding games and apps.

Operating System and Setup

Another area where ASUS VivoStick impresses is the fact that it runs on the latest Windows 10 operating system, which offers new and interesting features such as Cortana and Internet Explorer successor, Edge browser. This is probably the smallest Windows 10 PC right now. By comparison, the Intel Compute Stick runs on Windows 8 operating system. To enjoy the full Windows capabilities packed into this tiny device, you simply plug it into an HDMI port on your television or monitor. You will be taken through the usual Windows setup process when the PC-on-a-stick is inserted into a TV or monitor.

Sundry Features

ASUS VivoStick comes with inbuilt storage memory of 32 GB, which is quite measly given that significant portion of the storage space would have been taken up by Windows 10 installation. You may have to consider cloud storage because, unfortunately, there is no talk of a microSD card.

The mini PC boasts two USB ports (including one USB 3.0) enabling you attach a keyboard, mouse or any other USB devices such as a hub. It features an HDMI connector, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n.

Price and Availability

ASUS VivoStick comes with a recommended price of $129, which converts into a price of less than N25,000 in Nigeria. This is a great price when you consider that the slower, Windows 8-running Intel Compute Stick was made available at $150. As at this time, ASUS hasn’t yet disclosed when the device will be released to buyers.

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