Nowadays you can buy a mini PC in the form of an HDMI stick for a reasonable amount. You plug such a device into a computer monitor or television and you have direct access to a fully-fledged system. With the installation of Kodi on it you can go in all directions!
Recent mini PCs that are available as HDMI sticks often run on Intel's Atom Z3735F processor. The advantage of this is that this processor can handle multiple operating systems. For example, there are mini PCs available with a pre-installed version of Windows 10 and Ubuntu 14.04. A well-known example of this is the Intel Compute Stick. Also read: The 9 Best Mini PCs You Can Buy in 2016.
The Windows version of this product costs about 129 euros, while the Linux version is on the shelves for about 100 euros. In addition, there are manufacturers that use hardware from the Intel Compute Stick as a basis and release a comparable product under a different brand name. An example of this is the currently widely available NEXXT PC Stick. There are also plenty of HDMI sticks that are equipped with an Amlogic or RockChip processor. This usually has a version of Android installed. The quality of these Android sticks is usually at a lower level than the products that have an Intel processor on board. Here we get started with the Intel Compute Stick with Windows 10 preinstalled. By configuring Kodi on this, you have a versatile media PC in one fell swoop.
01 Connect Mini PC
First connect the Compute Stick to a television on which you want to watch movies and series. Plug the device into any HDMI port. If you want to play audio via a hi-fi set, connect the stick to a receiver. One condition is that the receiver has an HDMI input. Intel and most other HDMI stick manufacturers provide an HDMI extension cable if there is not enough space behind the monitor or amplifier. For power, connect the USB cable to the micro USB port of the mini PC. You plug the other end into a free USB port on your television, provided it supplies enough power.
If that is not the case, you can use the supplied power adapter for this. For operation, you preferably use a wireless keyboard with mouse. For example, you plug a receiver into the USB port of the mini PC. Furthermore, it is also possible to connect control devices with Bluetooth. The advantage of this method is that the USB port on the Compute Stick remains free to connect an external drive with media files.
02 Configuration
If you're using the Compute Stick for the first time, you'll go through the Windows setup process. Press the power switch on the side of the case to start up the mini PC. A blue LED lights up and the Windows configuration menu appears. Choose the desired language and agree to the license terms in the next window. Then set up the Wi-Fi network by entering the correct password. You can only connect the Compute Stick to the network via a wireless connection. Windows checks for updates. After a few moments, the system will reboot. You enter a username and password at your own discretion. After a few moments, the Windows 10 user environment appears on the television. You can now get started!
Intel Remote Keyboard
Don't have a wireless keyboard with mouse? There is another method to operate the Compute Stick, namely with a smartphone or tablet. Intel has developed an app for Android and iOS under the name Intel Remote Keyboard. You download this application for free from the App Store or Play Store. You also need the Intel Remote Keyboard Host App on the HDMI stick.
This program is normally already present on the Intel Compute Stick by default. If that is not the case with your mini PC, then download the software. After installation, the mobile app will automatically connect to the HDMI stick, provided that both devices are registered on the same Wi-Fi network. You go through the verification process by scanning a QR code on the television with your smartphone. Swipe gestures control the mouse and there is an on-screen keyboard in the app.
03 Select language
As soon as you use the Compute Stick for the first time, the Dutch language is unfortunately missing in the configuration menu of Windows. Fortunately, you can easily adjust that afterwards in Windows 10. Open menu Start and click Settings. Through Time & language / Region & language you have come to the right part. Click below Languages on Dutch. You may need to choose Add a language and Dutch. Then click via Options below Download language pack on the download button. Windows will now download the desired language pack. At the end of the download process, return to the previous screen and confirm at the bottom with Set as default. Restart the system to activate the Dutch language.
04 Install Kodi
If the HDMI stick functions completely as desired, you can get started with Kodi. Download the installation file for Windows. If you use a mini PC with a different operating system, you will find the correct installation file for Linux, OS X, Android and Raspberry Pi on this webpage. Go through all the steps of the installation process without making any changes. The Compute Stick has less processing power than most regular PCs. As a result, the installation takes longer than you are used to.
After a short wait, the English interface will appear on the screen. Because you have installed Kodi on an originally English version of Windows 10, there is no Dutch language pack available. Fortunately, you can download that. Navigate to System / Settings / Add-ons / Install from repository / Languages / Dutch and confirm with install. After the download process, the question will automatically appear whether you want to switch to this language. Choose yes. Finally, return to the main menu by clicking on the house at the bottom right.
05 Media File Storage
The Windows version of the Intel Compute Stick has 32 GB of storage capacity on board, which you can expand with a microSD card of up to 128 GB. The Linux variant has even less disk space with 8 GB of internal storage. For the storage of a catalog of media files, it is therefore better to look at alternative storage sources. You have roughly two options to choose from. When the USB port is not occupied by a receiver of a wireless keyboard with mouse, you can connect an external hard drive with films, series and music to it. This is by far the best option for the Compute Stick because you can play media files locally without any lag.
The second option is to stream media from network sources, such as a PC or NAS. Unfortunately, the Intel Compute Stick does not have an Ethernet port, so you are forced to retrieve streams via WiFi. This is usually not a success, especially for heavy film files, because there is a good chance that the image will stutter. In many cases, you can download highly compressed video files and music without hitches via a WiFi connection. Are you using another mini PC with Ethernet port? If the network speed of this connection is sufficient, streaming media files is a handy option.
