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Basic - why install when portable exists

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December 24, 2006 - 6:51pm
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occam
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Basic - why install when portable exists

Although my question concerns Firefox 2.0, I'm interested in the generic question:
why install when there is portable version

- why would anyone want to install a program on hard disk when a portable version exists?

It seems a portable program is a cleaner / simpler solution in all respects than an installed program. (Less mess in the registry, no uninstall problems, and portable on movable devices.)

What am I missing? Are there *any* downsides to portable software (speed of execution, update...?)

Thanks

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December 25, 2006 - 8:29am
Simeon
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well

you cant use features like "open with" or "associate with".
And, if you run it off a usb drive, you will have some performance-related stuff because you want to reduce writings to the drive. But you can ignore this while running a copy on your harddrive.

"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate

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December 25, 2006 - 2:22pm
(Reply to #2)
Bahamut
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you cant use features like

you cant use features like "open with" or "associate with".
Why not?

Vintage!

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December 25, 2006 - 3:09pm
(Reply to #3)
Simeon
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I think

these functionalities aren't portable. But you're right! That doesn't hurt in a local install...
My mistake.

"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate

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December 28, 2006 - 10:18pm
(Reply to #4)
thebeck
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Open with will always work

Open with will always work fine. You just browse to the program where your portable app is installed. Always open with or associate with will work fine too but will still try to open with the app you selected after it is removed.

By the way I totally agree with Occam. There is no good reason to "install" a program. I really like how in Mac OS X applications are just special folders that you can move around and delete and everything just works.

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December 29, 2006 - 9:51am
nycjv321
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speed of course! writes to

speed of course! writes to usb (as already mentioned) some extensions arent made to be portable so they wont work and less memory (barely noticable i know!) usage only one process running instead of two. and firefox was made to work alongside the system thats why it supposed to be "installed" useing it portably helps the users that have usb drives and dont want to use internet exploder Smile and feel more comfortable at home with the fox(i recomend 1.5.0.8 for older PC's and it feels like it runs smoother then 2.0.0.1 ) i dont recommend uninstalling it on a home pc and using portably on a home PC

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