How often do you get something so useful for free? (PortableApps)

Member Name: OrganiseChaos

Product:	PortableApps
Date:	03/02/09 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Really easy to use, like having my own PC wherever I go

Disadvantages: Some workplaces don't allow memory sticks to be used

First of all please bear in mind that this review is from the point of view of an end user and not a software engineer or technical bod!

~~What is it?~~
Portable Apps is a small piece of software which you can download from the website onto a USB memory stick. Once the software is installed you can use it like the 'Start' button for windows - you click on the icon and it pops up a menu for your memory stick. Its brilliantly simple.

~~What can I do with it?~~
Wherever you are you can pop in your memory stick and see your menu of programs which you can carry with you. There are many excellent free programs or applications to choose from.

Types of programs include:
# Office programs - OpenOffice.org
# PIM (calendar and address book)
# Games
# Internet - including firefox and thunderbird versions
# Utilities
# Password safes
# Music players... etc

I have a password safe, firefox browser, my calendar and address book (a PIM) as well as a music player, some office software and a couple of games. You can also then store all kinds of other files on the memory stick and get to them in two clicks from the icon in a 'My Documents' style folder.

~~Why do I need it?~~
Well for various scenarios really. I keep my memory stick in my wallet so i have it with me wherever i am so I can use Firefox at work rather than an old version of internet explorer. I can access my calendar at my mum's house or look up someone's phone number, i can keep to hand all my passwords (which I frequently used to forget!). If someone sends me a word doc and i'm on a PC without Word i can still open the doc, edit it and send it back.

I mostly tend to plug mine in at work when I get there in the morning and then dip in and out of it using the password safe or my calendar or making a note for myself or making a note for myself. I got one of those USB extension leads and taped it to the desk right in front of me because my USB ports are all at the back!

~~How does it work?~~
You download the software and install it (really easy). Then you can look around on the PortableApps site (and other sites have compatible programs too) choose a few other programs which you would like. Once you have downloaded and installed it you will find that when you plug in your memory stick you will be prompted to run Portable Apps. This will put a grey swirly icon in the bottom right corner near the system clock whenever the stick is plugged in. Click on this and up pops the menu. Click on it again and it hides back.

I recently (after using it for 6 months!) discovered that I can even change the picture at the top of the menu!

Since you can pick up memory sticks for a couple of quid these days I would recommend giving it a try!

Summary: A fantastic piece of software - couldn't be simpler or cheaper!

Variety of features:
Reliability:
User friendly:
Installation:
Update possibilites: