| Flash drives (a.k.a memory sticks, usb drives, usb keys | | | | database. While some of the interface is a little |
| and thumb drives) make it increasingly easy to take | | | | different, for the most part, if you know how to use |
| your data on the road. With gigabytes of storage | | | | MS Office, you know how to use Open Office. |
| available, you can take all of your spreadsheet, | | | | While Open Office was designed to run on desktop |
| presentation and document files wherever you go. | | | | machines, there's also a "portable" version that runs off |
| Unfortunately, your data isn't any good if you don't also | | | | your flash drive. The applications take up 144MB |
| have the appropriate applications. Public computers at | | | | installed, so you'll need a bigger drive, but these days, |
| libraries, internet cafes and hotel lobbies often have | | | | that's no problem. |
| only a browser installed. Business offices will have a | | | | Portable Firefox |
| full suite of applications, but not everyone uses | | | | Firefox is another desktop application that has made |
| Microsoft Office. And even if they do, the applications | | | | its way to the portable world. Whiles any computer |
| may be locked behind password protected security | | | | you use will have a browser, Portable Firefox will |
| systems. | | | | make your life easier in several ways: |
| Using another person's computer also presents a | | | | First, it allows you to import your bookmarks from your |
| security risk. Any time you use an application, you | | | | desktop version. So when you are on the road, you |
| leave behind traces of your visit. Productivity software | | | | are never at a loss for the url of that important site. |
| often will store older versions of files as a courtesy to | | | | Second, it lets you use all of the plugins that you have |
| the user. That courtesy can become a real threat if | | | | become accustomed to. And finally, it won't leave any |
| you have proprietary information. | | | | traces of your web surfing on the host. No one will be |
| The good news is that, as the capacity of flash drives | | | | able to see your "history", or a cache of the sites you |
| continues to increase, it has become increasingly easy | | | | visited. |
| to take simply take your applications with you. And in | | | | Photofiltre |
| doing so, you dramatically reduce your security | | | | If you need any proof that big things can come in small |
| exposure. | | | | packages, you jut need to take a look at Photofiltre. Its |
| Running software from your flash drive, however, is | | | | a full featured painting / photo editing package that fits |
| not as simple as installing Office to the stick instead of | | | | on, and runs from, a flash drive. |
| to your hard drive. Flash drive portable applications | | | | Foxit Reader |
| need to be able to run entirely off the drive, without | | | | The Portable Document Format (pdf) file has become |
| installing anything on the host computer. They can't rely | | | | the defacto format for transfering documents |
| on the host having Visual Basic, .Net or Java. They | | | | between users while retaining formatting. Foxit Reader |
| can't be location dependent, because when you plug | | | | is a small, fast pdf reader for your flash drive. |
| your drive into a host, you can't control what drive | | | | PStart |
| letter your device will be assigned. And settings and | | | | To manage the applications on your flash drive, PStart |
| files also need to be stored on your portable drive, not | | | | is then ideal launcher. Because it uses relative paths to |
| on the host. | | | | launch the applications, PStart doesn't get confused |
| Fortunately, there are an increasing number of | | | | when the drive gets assigned different letters on |
| applications that meet these requirements. Even better: | | | | different computers. To add applications to the main |
| the best of these are FREE. | | | | menu list, you just right click. PSmaart also offers |
| Portable Open Office | | | | search and not taking functions. |
| Open Office is the amazing, free, Microsoft Office | | | | Links to all of the programs discussed above can be |
| compatible suite that includes a word processor, | | | | found at The Flash Drive Blog. |
| spreadsheet, presentation tool, drawing package and | | | | |