Computers on a stick like the MeeGoPad T02 and Intel’s Compute Stick make it hard to believe that not even a generation ago, desktop PCs were a lot larger. Transporting them around was practically impossible and impractical. With advances in technology, computers have shrunk themselves down to a size where people can now hold them in their hand. The MeeGoPad T02 is challenging Intel’s Compute Stick not only with its specs, but with its price of $109 (compared to the Compute Stick’s $150).

How do these computers on a stick work? You plug it into the HDMI port of any TV or monitor and connect a power source, keyboard and mouse to the stick — making any screen with an HDMI port into a full-fledged PC. Effectively, the MeeGoPad T02 is the one of the smallest desktops that one can buy.

The MeegoPad T02 has an Intel Atom Z3735F Bay Trail CPU at 1.33GHz, Intel HD graphics, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. The MeegoPad T02 also has Windows 8.1 on it. The hard drive storage can also accomodate a few programs, making it ideal for office use. An advantage the MeegoPad T02 has over the T01 and the Intel Compute Stick is its two USB 2.0 ports.. The stick measures in at 110 x 43 x 10 mm and weighs only 48 grams, which allows anyone to take it anywhere they wish.

For those who want to save a few bucks and/or are more tech savvy, there’s a model without a Windows license that sells for only $90 and can run Ubuntu Linux. Although the price may make it comparable to its competitor, it doesn’t have the same first-party support that the Intel Compute Stick has, so consumers should make an informed decision before making their purchase.