Make your memory stick the most useful device ever!! (PortableApps)

Member Name: valve90210

Product:	PortableApps
Date:	01/07/09 (84 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Huge choice of programs, all run from your memory stick,FREE

Disadvantages: None

A few weeks ago, I had an interesting task set for me by my mother. Now, firstly I should explain that my mum is the area manager for a chain of coffee shops and is in charge of managing them all, along with training the staff that they employ.

She had seen a programme on television which was all about the issues faced by a chain of eateries, and a lot of tthe points raised were very apt for the coffee shops she runs.

As such she asked me if there was anyway we could edit together a few of the best clips and send out a CD to each of the coffee shops so they could play the clips on the (very aged) computers in each of the stores.

I knew I could do the editing of the clips but I had no idea what software each of the different computers in the shops had and as such I wasn't sure how I would be able to make sure that they would all be able to play the videos.

That was when I started to look into the idea of a standalone video player that I could include on the CD that would therefore be usable at each location.

I was not sure if such a thing actually existed but after asking on a computers forum I frequent, I was pointed in the direction of Portable apps.com.

I was amazed to find that not only was there a choice of standalone video players but in fact there was an entire suite of software of all kinds that could be run from either a USB memory stick, or a CD etc.

For the video task I decided just to downlload VLC portable. I set it up as required and burnt it to a cd. I all worked perfectly, and my mother was able to send out a copy of the dick to each of the coffee shops who were all able to view the videos.

Since then, I have downloaded the whole suite of programmes and installed them onto my memory stick, and I have to say it has been so useful that I now carry it with me at all times and would hate t o be without it.

Amongst my friends I am the most computer literate and as such I get asked to do all kinds of jobs on different peoples computers.

So many times a job would be easy to do if for example they had software to open a zip file, or software to defragment the hard drive but in so many cases they don't have the software and don't have internet access to allow me to get it. In these cases the Portable Apps suite has been amazing!!!

The applications in the suite cover a great many bases, from useful software tools to read pdf files through to self contained web browsers to system tools such as the hard drive defragmenter.

In addition to the collection of tools that are useful for helping out with computer fixing etc, there are also a good number of programs for more everyday tasks, such a Mozilla Sunbird for keeping track of appointments on your calendar and tasks that you need to do; GIMP - an oddly named but very powerful photo editing program in the same vane as Photoshop, various media playing software and even an entire office suite with equivalents of Word, Excel, Access etc. You really could perform pretty much every day to day task just using software run from your USB memory stick, very useful if you are ever in the situation of having to use an unfamiliar computer that may or may have the programs you need!!

If the huge array of programs to choose from is tempting you to check this suite out...then the price may well seal the deal... it is all FREE!!!

As hard as that may be to believe, it really is the case, all of those programs can be downloaded and used for the grand fee of nothing at all... every ones favourite price!!!

This suite really is an amazing thing and I would strongly urge anyone who uses computers on a frequent basis - and indeed anyone that ever has to work on a variety of different computers - to give this a try!!!

Summary: Really, just give it a try, it's great!!!

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