Intel quietly stops development on the Compute Card, a device packing a system-on-chip, memory, storage and wifi/Bluetooth connectivity in a card-style package measuring all of 95 x 55 x 55mm.
The first signs of the end of the modular computing concept came from Compute Card partner NexDock. A company blog post reads that while NexDock has recently finished a new Compute Card product (the laptop-style NexDock 2), the company has discovered "the future of Compute Card is uncertain." Why? Intel is simply not working on a next generation of the product. Later Intel confirmed the story through a statement to PC news website Tom's Hardware.
"We continue to believe modular computing is a market where there are many opportunities for innovation," Intel says. "However, as we look at the best way to address this opportunity, we’ve made the decision that we will not develop new Compute Card products moving forward. We will continue to sell and support the current Compute Card products through 2019 to ensure our customers receive the support they need with their current solutions, and we are thankful for their partnership on this change."
First launched back at CES 2017, the Compute Card concept promised to bring computing power "to virtually any product, anywhere." The idea was to slot the cards in a variety of products, such as desktop PC replacement docks, laptops and smart TVs. Such a design allows for simple upgrades, since one can swap the card out for a better model. Intel even provided partners with a Docking System packing USB 3.0, ethernet and HDMI/DisplayPort functionality.
Farewell to the dream of simple, upgradeable computers then, at least from Intel.
