Skip to main content

Install an aftermarket operating system on the Intel Compute Stick and you’ll void the warranty

Intel’s Compute Stick, the tiny HDMI enclosure that houses an Atom-based computer, is compact, quiet, and inconspicuous, but a little less than the sum of its parts. The Compute Stick’s lower-end hardware struggles to keep up with the modern competition, and it suffers from an acute lack of ports and storage (32GB). And it’s now become clear that even its price — $109 for the Linux-based model — has a caveat: if you migrate from the preinstalled operating system, you’ll void the warranty.

That’s according to language spotted on the Intel Compute Stick support site by Softpedia. “Operating systems other than the ones listed” — either Windows 8.1 32-bit or Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 64-bit, depending on the model of Compute Stick — “are not supported and do not have drivers available,” the page says. “Installing a different operating system voids the Intel Compute stick warranty.”

Recommended Videos

While this policy could be seen as a way to discourage buyers from opting for the cheaper, Linux-based Compute Stick and installing Windows (the Windows model costs $149), Intel’s purpose might be less odious. The cheaper variant ships with the absolute minimum amount of RAM (1GB) that Microsoft recommends for Windows 8.1 installations and half (8GB of storage) the required hard disk space. Even so, these limitations probably won’t stop some foolhardy owners from attempting the install anyway. So it could be said that Intel is just covering its bases.

But the warranty-voiding clause is concededly broad as written (it encompasses lightweight Linux distributions, too), and may not even be legal. The Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act, a 1975 United States federal law, prohibits companies from requiring that “only branded parts be used with [their] product[s] in order to retain warranty.” That’s not to say Intel’s required to support all aftermarket alterations — as the company notes, it doesn’t provide official drivers for third-party operating systems — but it’s likely bound to continue offering warranty replacements to owners who make customizations.

If nothing else, the Intel Compute Stick’s warranty implies that it’s intended to be minimally tinkered with. While its legality may be subject to a court challenge, the state of the dongle’s drivers pretty much relegates the Compute Stick to the “set it and forget it” category of computers. (We found it best for media streaming.) In other words, hardware hobbyists need not apply.

Kyle Wiggers
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
The robot takeover comes another step closer — at Amazon
An Amazon robot working inside one of the company's warehouses.

Amazon is close to having more robots operating inside its warehouses than humans after the e-commerce giant announced this week that it now has more than a million robots working at its facilities around the world.

Over the years, Amazon has spent billions of dollars on the development and deployment of warehouse-based robots, which handle an array of tasks once performed by human workers.

Read more
This Lenovo ThinkPad laptop is over $1,400 off — hurry while stocks last!
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 Intel laptop on a white background.

Now's an excellent time to take advantage of laptop deals from Lenovo, which has slashed the prices of a wide range of devices for its Black Friday in July sale. Lenovo's ThinkPad laptops are up to 45% off, and here's one of the most interesting offers available with such a discount — the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 at $1,440 off its estimated value of $3,199, so you'll only have to pay $1,759. That's an excellent price for this fantastic productivity tool, but you're going to have to push forward with your purchase as soon as possible because stocks may run out at any moment.

BUY NOW

Read more
Early Prime Day deal: Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey G3 at its annual low price
Samsung Odyssey G3 gaming monitor on desk with keyboard and headset.

If you're ready to upgrade your monitor, this Samsung deal over at Amazon just might be your best bet. The 27-inch version of Samsung's Odyssey G3 is $130 right now, a full $100 off its regular $230 price and its lowest price of the year. It's a part of early Prime Day deals and a good sampling of what we can expect for the shopping holiday, which officially lands on July 8th. Tap the button below to see it for yourself or keep reading to see why we like this deal and why this should be your next monitor.

Buy Now

Read more