Use portable apps to always have your favorite programs handy
Imagine you are in an office or computer lab and unable to use one of your favorite programs. People typically cannot install new software on those types of computers, so it would be beneficial to have a backup. A portable app stored on a USB drive will take care of the problem.
Portable apps are micro-versions of computer applications that can be installed onto and run from a USB drive. At times when a person does not have a laptop or computer that permits downloads and installations, portable apps can be a lifesaver. For instance, install OpenOffice onto your USB drive and you’ll have the power to write, read, and edit your documents on almost any computer with a USB port. It’s like having a mini-computer with you at all times.
During a recent trip out of town, I had to perform some light work-related duties. Trying to get anything done on just my hotel lobby computer or cell phone alone wouldn’t have gotten the job done. That’s why I was glad to have a few portable apps stored on my USB drive. I was able to edit documents in OpenOffice, manipulate photos with GIMP, and even use Pidgin to send instant messages. Having these programs installed made a potentially complicated experience quite simple.
There are a variety of free applications ranging from computer games to email managers. I recommend browsing the PortableApps.com website for programs you may be interested in having. You can download an entire suite or pick-and-choose which programs to keep. Then snag a quality USB drive and you’ll be able to bring your computer anywhere.
Filed Under: Computers & Software > PC > Productivity Tools
Tags: portability, usb
I’ve been using PortableApps for 3 years or so now. It’s absolutely great. Most of my favourite apps will go on it and if you look around the internet there are a whole bunch more apps with portability built in or available the aren’t mentioned at Portableapps.com. A couple of the most usefull apps are KeePass Password Safe, 7-Zip, Mozilla Firefox, GIMP (say “Bye! Bye” to Photoshop), the OpenOffice Suite and Pidgin (client for MSN Messenger, IRQ, AOL Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, etc). I also have all my contacts available. It’s a great tool for when you’re travelling.
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Thanks for the post Andrew!
One question: How does PortableApps differ from U3 technology? I’ve never used either, but it sounds like they do the same thing.
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I used a U3 USB drive several years ago. I’m not sure if this is still the case but I didn’t like that it required installing the drive/software on the computer you plug into. my school’s IT department blocked that, so it created problems. I prefer portable apps because they run directly from the drive and dont require installing software.
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