Portable Applications - The Future of Applications

Ever wish you didn't have to carry around a laptop just because all of your files and software are on it? Or how public computers are often inconsistent in software and you have a hard time finding the one that'll work for you? Now, we can stop having those problems and all you need is a simple USB Drive (preferably with 1 gigabyte) and access to a computer with internet.

A portable application is a software that you can use by itself. This means no installation. No registry changes. Nothing but an executable with all of your settings saved and ready to be used on any computer. Although you can download many different applications separately and keep them on the drive, there is a launcher that makes everything easier to use.

The PortableApp Suite is a program that will open when the USB drive is plugged in and automatically set itself in the task tray. Open it up and you'll see a list of every single portable application on your USB drive ready to be used as well as having the options to open folder and change certain settings. Besides all of this, it also has a back-up feature; if you're afraid your drive will suddenly lose all of its information, no problem. Just press Back-Up and you'll be able to back up the entire drive, compressed and saved on your main computer. At anytime, you can load the back up onto the drive and it'll be just like before. This also is very help if you're changing USB drives and simply want a no hassle way of copying everything so it's identical.

But what about the programs themselves? You may think they're simple programs like Notepad but that couldn't be further from the truth. As we see from here, some available software include an entire Office Suite (Open Office), Internet Browser (Firefox), Instant Messenger (Gaim), Graphics Editor (Gimp), Media Player (VLC), Compression Software (7-Zip) and even Anti-Virus (ClamWin). With all of these softwares, it's like having your own computer at all times on a simple USB drive.

So what is the downside to all of this amazing stuff? It uses slightly more memory than their non-portable counterparts. I think the benefits far outweigh the cost and makes this a great alternative to carrying all of your files with you. If you're feeling very adventurous, you can even carry an entire Operating System on a USB drive (Linux on a Stick) and really have exactly what you would have on your home computer. Your background, your files, where they're saved, even games! Of course, this requires a much larger USB Drive (at least 2 gigabytes) and is somewhat difficult to set up but it's a great way to show off your tech-skills!

Final thing: if there's an application you want that is not available in portable-form, check the forums and there will be many willing to help you along with many who will back you up. Have fun carrying your computer with you!