Latest of USB Apps & Platforms
Students, teachers, workers, and just about everyone else are already enjoying the benefits of portable computing, using USB flash drives to take all their documents with them from computer to computer. The latest growing trend today however is not in hardware but in software, as more routes for taking applications with you on the go become available.
Collectively called Portable Applications, these nifty programs range from web browsers that keep your web history private yet your bookmarks close, to games that keep you occupied, anti-virus utilities for keeping your flash drive (and friend's computer) clean, basic word processors for getting the task at hand done, instant messengers, and everything in between.
Portable Applications are usually designed either be created to run off a specific platform such as Ceedo or U3, or made to run as stand-alone applications, many of which are available for free as ZIP files from PortabeApps.com and PortableFreeware.com. These stand-alone applications are typically accessed by directly launching the program, or by a light-weight menu called PStart that sits in your system tray.
Alternatively, there are a few easy-to-use platforms that feature a large number of certified programs that are guaranteed to work and put an emphasis on ease of installation and management. U3, the most prevalent of these platforms on the market today is headed by Sandisk, and requires a special U3-enabled flash drive like the company's flagship Cruzer Titanium in order to run, as it uses special firmware to automatically launch when inserted into Windows.
Ceedo, U3's main competitor also has a solid offering of programs and an intuitive look that's a spitting image of the Windows XP start menu, although as a relative newcomer it has some minor user interface hurdles to overcome. It can be installed on any USB mass storage device, and comes pre-installed as "PowerToGo" on Lexar JumpDrive Lightning. Ceedo also features Install-Anything, an in-development program that may allow you to install any non-portable application on your Ceedo drive, although its compatibility remains limited.
Alternatively, a new program just out of beta called MojoPac also exists, trumpeting the ability to install practically any program you throw at it by running a separate session of Windows XP. Local resources such as printers and game controllers are automatically brought into MojoPac, however it's biggest limitation is that it can only run on computers logged on with Administrator rights (i.e. not at schools or most job sites.)
As you might have guessed by now, the overwhelming majority of these portable applications are written exclusively for Windows, and there are currently no portable platforms that exist for the Macintosh. However, Mac users can still get their kicks by downloading portable software from FreeSMUG.org.
Alternatively, there are a few easy-to-use platforms that feature a large number of certified programs that are guaranteed to work and put an emphasis on ease of installation and management. U3, the most prevalent of these platforms on the market today is headed by Sandisk, and requires a special U3-enabled flash drive like the company's flagship Cruzer Titanium in order to run, as it uses special firmware to automatically launch when inserted into Windows.
Ceedo, U3's main competitor also has a solid offering of programs and an intuitive look that's a spitting image of the Windows XP start menu, although as a relative newcomer it has some minor user interface hurdles to overcome. It can be installed on any USB mass storage device, and comes pre-installed as "PowerToGo" on Lexar JumpDrive Lightning. Ceedo also features Install-Anything, an in-development program that may allow you to install any non-portable application on your Ceedo drive, although its compatibility remains limited.
Alternatively, a new program just out of beta called MojoPac also exists, trumpeting the ability to install practically any program you throw at it by running a separate session of Windows XP. Local resources such as printers and game controllers are automatically brought into MojoPac, however it's biggest limitation is that it can only run on computers logged on with Administrator rights (i.e. not at schools or most job sites.)
As you might have guessed by now, the overwhelming majority of these portable applications are written exclusively for Windows, and there are currently no portable platforms that exist for the Macintosh. However, Mac users can still get their kicks by downloading portable software from FreeSMUG.org.
Well-known USB Apps Platforms
U3 - Grand-daddy of USB App Platforms
Ceedo - Mobilize "any" Windows Apps
PortableApps Suite
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|  Pre-loaded on select flash drives Platform not user installable Apps in compressed format Auto-run apps via CD-ROM emulation Released September 2005 |
Ceedo - Mobilize "any" Windows Apps
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| Runs on any USB storage Apps are uncompressed InstallAnything can move Windows apps to Ceedo Can't auto-run apps $34.99; 30-day free trial Released September 2006 |
PortableApps Suite
 | Runs on any USB storage Runs on Windows 98 and up User installable Not Proprietary Free / OpenSource Released November 2006 |
