Stick PCs have not been around for long. They got a lot of hype a few years ago, but cheaper laptops and smart TVs pushed them away from the limelight. However, the genre is still around and now belongs to a more dedicated set of users. Azulle’s Access3 is looking to buck the trend by providing you with one of the most powerful Stick PCs you can find on the market. It offers more ports, a 64-bit architecture as well as more RAM to most users.
What is a Stick PC?
The concept of a Stick PC is nothing new. However, they became quite popular when Intel announced the Compute Stick back in 2015. The idea is simple. They are a bit of a stick, much like your USB stick. However, more like the original ChromeCast, they plug into an HDMI port instead of a USB one. This means that they are small, they can easily fit in your pocket, and most importantly, they are easily portable. However, most of them do need a power supply (micro USB port for most). Unlike a ChromeCast, these act as full PCs, including USB ports, WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity, and in the case of the Access 3, even an ethernet port!
Most common uses for such devices include the use by IT guys who need to have a small portable computer wherever they go, office workers who need a personal PC as well as their work laptop, and of course, the ever-growing need for media servers.
Access3 Fanless Mini PC stick
Azulle have been making portable PC Sticks for a while. The Access3 is their latest and greatest offering. It is essentially a fanless mini PC Stick, which fits in the palm of your hand or the bottom of your pocket. It helps you convert any HDMI compatible display into a fully functional PC. This can be used for business or entertainment purposes. It features 2 x USB 3.0 ports, as well as an ethernet port. This means that you can connect a whole array of accessories to this, making it the perfect portable PC.
Azulle Access3 – Specifications
It offers the following specificatios.
Processor | Intel Apollo Lake N3350 / N3450 |
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Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
BIOS | Wake on LAN/PXE/Auto Power ON |
RAM | 2GB/4GB/6GB |
Storage | 32GB/64GB |
GPU | Intel HD Graphic 12EU/18EU |
Wi-Fi | Dual-Band 2.4Ghz/5Ghz |
Ethernet | 1 Gigabit |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 |
HDMI | x1 Port 4K @ 30fps |
USB | x2 3.0 Ports |
External Storage | Up to 256GB Micro SD slot |
Audio Output | 3.5 mm Jack |
Power Supply | 5V/2A |
Dimension | 5.2in x 2in x 0.75in |
The cheapest options, with the lowest specs, comes in at $175.99. The most expensive option featuring 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage comes in at $335.99. You can even go for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise or NixOS-Like
The Competition
There isn’t a lot of competition out there among Stick PCs. However, the following are some:
- Google’s Chromebit, made by Asus – which runs Chrome OS
- Intel’s Compute Stick, which was released in 2015 but hasn’t made many waves. It only runs Windows 8.1.
- Lenovo’s Idea Centre Stick 300, which only goes up to 2GB of RAM and 32 GB Storage
- Archos PC Stick, which offered the same features as Intel’s Compute Stick. It did come with MS Office.
- Dell’s Wyse Cloud Connect, featuring an Android OS – this one has been discontinued.
- Modecom’s FreePC PC Stick, which we looked at some time back.
Most of these are around the £100-£150 mark. However, as is obvious, none of the above go to the specs the Access3 offers.
Usability
The Access3 can be used to do pretty much anything a regular PC can do. Think of it is as a tiny desktop PC, which plugs into the back of your TV/Monitor instead of taking up space.
For most, this will be a PC that can help you make use of your TV, letting you use it as an extra screen, use it as a video conferencing device or simply turn the Access3 into a media server and play your video/audio files on your TV. The 256GB SD Card slot should make that even more useful.
For others, it has bigger uses. IT people often keep one of these in their bags as an ‘extra computer’. The Linux option is also useful for them.
Moreover, it can make a big difference to the BYOD (Bring your own device) industry. While the concept hasn’t caught on like the wildfire it hoped, some people still use it. If this is your main work device, all you need to do is to unplug it from your workstation and simply come home with it.
This is where having up to 6GB of RAM is so useful. In a world where base laptops still come with 2GB or 4GB of RAM, having a device with some actual oomph is definitely the way to go.
Portability
As is evident from the section above, the device is all about portable use.
In terms of portability, you are looking at a pretty small device, something that can easily be slipped into your pocket. With a very small extra weight, this is a device you can carry with you at all times.
The Ethernet plus Dual WiFi support means it should work in pretty much any environment a regular PC will. Add Bluetooth and you can have a completely wireless experience.
More information
More information on the Access 3 Fanless Mini PC Stick can be found on the Azulle website.
It retails from $141.99, and can be bought directly from their website or other online retailers.
Verdict
The Azulle Access3 is the perfect companion for anybody in search of a small and portable PC that they’d like to carry with them everywhere.
Note: This post was written in collaboration with Azulle.