Hi all.....
This stumble couldn't have come in a better time since I'm leaving for the next 2 months and want to keep working on the road.
I heard about a special USB drive by sandisk that you can install software on and use it anywhere. Is this what this application is about?
Can I install any software I want on it and use it elsewhere? or is it specific software that I saw published on the right side of the main page?
Thanks
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Basically there are two main ways to run applications from a memory stick.
U3 (the sandisk product you mentioned)
applications found here
U3 is a commercial product, most applications cost money, it doesn't work on older machines, only works on some memory sticks, and is a proprietary system.
The applications found here are all free (and open source), and work on pretty much any computer, and any memory stick (if it is fast enough, USB 2.0 is best really).
The applications here are focussed on being completely portable, that is they:
* will run successfully from a memory stick inserted into any PC
* do not leave any traces on the host PC - when you leave, nothing is left on the PC you were working on
* save all their settings onto the memory stick
If an application you would like is not on this site, I would check if these applications have the same functionality, i.e. Gaim can replace MSN Messenger, AIM etc. There are many other "portable" apps on the web, but not all will fulfil all the points above, i.e. some leave traces on the host PC.
If you are travelling around then it is very useful, but I would be wary of viruses, especially of you are working in a lot of internet cafes. ClamWin is a portable virus scanner, and I would recommend using this to keep yourself protected.
What you saw is U3...
What is here is Portableapps...
The portableapps are a lot better than U3
In short, go with a NON U3 drive... it will save you money...
check out my blog@ cthelight.wordpress.com
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Don't ignore U3 drives entirely;
Rather, simply search for the BEST thumbdrive bargain you can find for your budget - without regard for if its U3 or not - and buy it.
THEN, if it *happens* to be a U3 drive, get rid of its U3-ness by formatting the stick, and you're good to go with PortableApps!!!...
(Granted, generally regular drives are cheaper than U3 ones anyway, but not ALways... Therefore, why limit the guy's options when bargains can sometimes be found in the most unexpected circumstances?)
And by the way, ophir, welcome to portableapps!
"I don't hate cats...as long as they stay on the freeway, where they belong."
- Brad Stine
I personally recommend PortableApps. It is better than U3 for a number of reasons.
1.) PortableApps programs are all free, where most [full versions of] U3 programs are not.
2.) PortableApps programs take up less space on your memory stick/flash drive than U3 Programs do.
3.) PortableApps programs boot faster than U3 on most computers.
4.) Many U3 programs are out of date compared to PA.
I use both PortableApps and U3, and find U3 to be helpful sometimes, but I use PortableApps far more.
Please pardon my English, I'm from Wisconsin.
There is a third option, my personal favorite, Ceedo. Ceedo (www.ceedo.com) when combined with Argo allows you to install ANY application you want to it and run it portably with no traces left behind. Ceedo itself is $30 and Argo is another $20 but it is worth it. I carry all my stuff around with me (Opera, Xfire, Dev-C++, Skype, ALZip, etc) with no traces left behind.
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Linux: Because rebooting is for adding hardware
Well, you can't say "with no traces". It leaves at least one EXE (AutoDetect.exe) behind in the temp directory on every machine you run it on.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Thats weird, the way I understood it was that when you start Ceedo, it prompts you to "Choose an Action" and theres a checkbox at the bottom that says enable Auto detect (Auto runs like U3) and only if you checked that box did AutoDetect.exe stay behind.
Please correct me if I'm wrong
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Linux: Because rebooting is for adding hardware
AutoDetect also stays behind to allow Ceedo to eject no matter how you have it set in Choose an Action. U3 does the same thing except it leaves an EXE in C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\U3.
Basically, they both leave hard traces (not just MUICache or Prefetch) on every system you run them on.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Ok, Ceedo may not be fully "trace free" in the sense that someone can tell that you have used Ceedo, at least they cant tell what apps you used and what you did with them. Anyway, in my opinion its just a small price to pay to have the ability to carry almost all of my apps with me.
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Linux: Because rebooting is for adding hardware