Portable applications are applications that can be ran on USB flash disk without the need to install them on your PC. Generally the data is stored with those applications on the USB flash disk and your data is accessible on any PC without the need of any software installation. This kind of applications will help you also keep your Notebook at home. You will carry with you the web browser with your favorite bookmarks, your calendar with all your appointments and your mail client with all your received emails. There are portable applications for lots of software categories.
There are many software suites but I am going to write about PortableApps.com a free and open source portable apps platform.
All versions of the PortableApps.com Suite include the integrated PortableApps.com Menu (pictured at right) and the PortableApps.com Backup utility along with a set of custom icons, an autoplay configuration, folders and a quick start shortcut. In addition, the packages include:
Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition (web browser)- Mozilla Thunderbird, Portable Edition (email)
- Mozilla Sunbird, Portable Edition (calendar/tasks)
- ClamWin Portable (antivirus)
- Pidgin Portable (instant messaging)
- Sumatra PDF Portable (PDF reader
- KeePass Password Safe Portable (password manager)
- Sudoku Portable (game)
- Mines-Perfect Portable (game)
- CoolPlayer+ Portable (audio player)
- OpenOffice.org Portable (office suite)
– Writer (word processor)
– Calc (spreadsheet)
– Impress (presentations)
– Base (database utility)
– Draw (drawing)
No Special Hardware is required: use any USB flash drive, portable hard drive, iPod/MP3 player, etc
No Additional Software is required: just download, run the portable installer and go