Intel Launches Four Compute Cards – The Credit Card Sized Micro Computer

Earlier this year, back at CES, Intel unveiled its plans for a brave new future for its miniature computers. While the Compute Stick had gained some support, it was eventually scrapped. To replace it, Intel put its effort into creating something a little bit different, a credit-card-sized computer you can actually fit in your wallet.

If you saw our article on the Compute Card back at CES, you’ll be already up to speed, but as a reminder, the Compute Card is a very compact, ultra-thin miniature computer that contains everything you need to take the office with you. In many regards, this isn’t strictly a personal computer in the classic sense, as the main markets for such a device are not really about portability, despite it’s size.

The Compute Card‘s main appeal is its ability to be the brains behind common electronic devices with a clear future planned out for upgrading devices without replacing them. The biggest reason for such cards will come from Kiosks, vending machines, and large displays. Back at CES, the cards were expected to play a role in TVs, where smart TVs could have their ‘smart’ features upgraded to more powerful processors or connectivity, but the reality would be that TV manufacturers would just rather sell a brand new TV. However, it’s the commercial sector that will see the most use.

There is also a new potential market available though, one that a couple of companies have already started to develop for, upgradeable tablets and laptops. For the most part, the displays and keyboards found with laptops, notebooks, convertibles and tablets, remain fully functional (if you don’t drop them) long after the device has served its purpose, but the internals will often feel ‘aged’. Compute Cards would be a way to completely overhaul the internal hardware of such devices while keeping the display and connectivity. In the long-term, a much cheaper upgrade path. The Compute Cards are small enough in that they could be used as the main processing unit for mobile phones too, with a separate, but fixed internal board for the additional sensors, such as GPS, LTE and gyros.

Now, looking at the specs for the four cards released, they are not exactly going to win any performance awards, but they are self-contained, complete computers. All that needs to be added is connectivity and display capabilities, making them perfect for ultra-portables for web browsing and such. Kiosks that want to change user interfaces or dispense new products, could just swap out the main compute unit and have a brand new machine.

NexDock Concept System With Compute Card & Replaceable I/O

Sharp has digital signage systems using the cards, and Foxconn are integrating them into miniature computers. LG is currently working on a concept system that lets users turn their monitors into all-in-ones. NexDock are working on a ‘dumb’ tablet which uses the Compute Cards exclusively, and does seem to be the one to look out for on the consumer side of things, as it provides an additional dock for connectivity.

The Compute Card is certainly interesting, but as we said back at CES, a number of companies are going to be somewhat tentative around it due to the lack of consumer appeal (sell a brand new computer rather than an upgradeable one), but if a company like NexDock can make something out of it, we could see Compute Cards becoming a new way to keep old hardware relevant.