Download and use portable applications

Portable applications are software programs that are stored on and run from a portable storage drive. So, rather than relying on a USB memory key solely to transport documents, you can use one to carry all your favourite applications in your pocket.

Then, when you sit down at any PC, just slot in the USB key and use it to launch your own applications to work with your own documents.

Where can you use portable applications?
There are a few limits to using portable applications. The most important is that portable programs are not suitable for every situation.

For example, an internet café might allow its customers to plug in their own USB memory keys and cameras to transfer photos, but it is likely that for security reasons these public PCs will be configured to prevent users running their own applications.

So, we would not recommend relying on portable applications as you travel the world making use of public computers.

However, for those who regularly work at different PCs they own or can otherwise manage, portable applications can provide an easy way of replicating a personalised working environment on all computers.

Everything is stored on a single, portable storage device, so there is no need to worry about synchronising files and folders. And every time you tweak an application to work the way you want, that too will be remembered.

No matter which PC you’re working on, the applications you rely on will always look and ‘feel’ exactly the same – not something that is typically expected when working with multiple computers.

What you will need
The requirements for using portable applications are pretty light. All you need is a portable storage device such as­ a USB memory key, a portable hard disk or even an MP3 player that has some spare storage space. The software, as we will see, is cheap or free.

How much storage space is necessary will depend on exactly how you will use portable applications, but you can get away with as little as 256MB. However, given that USB memory keys cost as little as £5 for 2GB storage (that is eight times as much as the 256MB we recommend as a minimum), buying one just for the purpose could be a sensible move.

There are several approaches to portable applications. The first is to use portable applications designed for the purpose: programs developed with the intention of being stored on, and used from, a portable storage device.

The advantages of this approach include speed and reliability, while the biggest downside is being reliant on applications you may not have used before (though compatibility with obvious titles, such as Microsoft Office, isn’t an issue).

The second method is creating a virtual ‘copy’ of your entire PC on the USB key. A tool called ‘virtualisation’ software recreates a software version of your PC, its settings, applications and documents, which can be accessed when you plug the memory key into another computer.

The key advantage is that applications you already own can be installed onto this virtual PC, but performance can be a big disadvantage – a virtual PC can run much slower than the real thing.

The final take relies on a buzzword technology, cloud computing. This means using services and applications that exist online, accessed via a web browser.

Many of the online tools are excellent, but should you find yourself without web access, you won’t be able to reach them. Evidently, this could be a major problem if you’re on deadline.

We’re going to focus on the first approach, because dedicated portable applications are easy to install and use, and should serve the needs of the broadest range of people.