Nowadays we almost always bring portable storage such as usb flash disk or portable HDD. but in some circumstance, we need to do something with our file inside usb flash disk or portable HDD ie: editing worksheet, extracting archive file etc.
not all computer we use connected with our portable storage have application that we need. So then we need portable application intalled (include) in our portable storage. I think the idea of portable application would be a great in the future.

and now there are many free software that support for portable storage. we can get it from www.portableapps.com or www.portablefreeware.com

The idea of portable application has been around since the introduction of Macro media programming. But the problem is that Microsoft decided to purchase the whole "idea" of application over the web by buying the copyright.

Google has managed to launch web-apps for documents and spreadsheet but it's taking a long time to catch on with end users. I have been promoting my business partners to get used to the idea of using web-apps but old habits are hard to break, I suppose.

I saw portableapps.com just the other day and it really intrigued me. But the limitation is still at my end--if I forget to install portable application(s) to my USB or flash drive I am still without the application(s) that I require. I believe web-apps is still the best approach for the future.

Whether it's web-apps or portableapps, as we face even greater broadband speed and wider coverage of wi-fi, carrying around clunky and heavy laptop will phase out. And instead, it will be replaced with minimum storage space with fast processor, foldable wide screen and wi-fi connection also known as "hand-top" (that's right Trap17 members, I am coining this phrase and you saw it here first!) computer will only require internet access to bring everything to my finger tips. I can lease programs per usage or per period basis over the web and use programs that I only require without buying into huge license fee.

They do have portable applications through USB sticks, I have a couple that the U3 software installed, and although I never ran anything through the flash stick I do believe you can install them on the USB stick and they won't take up much space and be able to run them. The 1 or 2Gb sticks have this software installer that you can find at staples and what not.

Here is the link for the U3 store.

Problem with web applications is your running into compatible and limitation issues, but of course with ajax becoming more power then ever I think by the time 3rd generation ajax comes out those issues will be figured out.

Your hand top sounds like an Iphone in somewhat buff.

Portable apps are nice, but they tend to trash your flashdisks so the lifespan will be shorter. I use Firefox Portable but I wrap it around a simple batch script that copies the application to local hard disk and then start it from there. Of course your privacy is a bit insecure because data in harddisk can be recovered, but to me it is less important than my flashdisk.

As for U3, it is a bloat created by flashdisk manufacturers to take your money even more in a single flashdisk purchase.

here is something for you guys to check out:

A student has developed a technique for portable data whereby the data can now be stored on ordinary paper. And to boot, larger amount of data can be had on lesser space. The immediate question that pops up in the mind is how to retrieve the data. Will it be as facile as feeding a floppy disc or CD into the drive and having it on the monitor? Perhaps it will be much easier than all that. The piece of paper or even plastic sheet storing the data has just to be scanned in the scanner and read over the monitor.

Named as 'Rainbow Technology', the new technique is the brainchild of Sainul Abideen, who has just finished his MCA from MES Engineering College in Kuttipuram in Kerala's Malappuram district.

To read more on this:

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/S...63748200695.asp

web-apps sound interesting first time i heard. but actually we still waiting for the performance of web-app.

I love to use portable applications, i have all the programs that i need in my 2 GB pen drive, namely, i have:

Flash
Photoshop
SwishMAX
Firefox
Corel Draw

And others that i find quite helpful.

The use of portable versions of software is very helpful because we do not need to install them, you just run them like we were opening a program already installed with a simple double click.

Obviously, some people do not find it useful, but they do not know what they are talking about!