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Comments on: Featured Freeware: PortableApps

Taking an old-school tack to an ages-old computer problem, the PortableApps Suite approach to mobile computing feels more Web 0.5 than 2.0, but works great for those who need supersmall versions of their favorite open-source programs.

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by tashfeen_m April 26, 2008 1:07 AM PDT

This is a good piece of software, but perhaps the developers might have wanted to wait for Firefox 3.0 to be out. I'm also not a fan of ClamWin and would have loved seeing Avast instead (here's my take: http://avscan.blogspot.com/2008/01/avast-47-home-edition-review.html). Future versions of PortableApps will probably include something that can post to social networking websites. Well, it should.

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by linuxnewbie5 April 26, 2008 7:28 AM PDT: PortableApps is an open source project. It is constantly updated, and will have Firefox 3 when it comes out. It already has the betas, if you really can't wait. Avast is not open source, which is why it will not be in there. Also, you can add any portable application off the web that you can find. It is not solely the apps from the website. If you can find an open source program to post to social networks, send a word, and they might put it in. Or just do it yourself However, you shouldn't debase it just because it doesn't have the specific app you want. It is an amazing piece of software that any person with a large enough thumb drive should have.; Like this


by alice_b0wie April 26, 2008 4:56 AM PDT: i use firefox's portable apps browser exclusively instead of having it on my computer. it seems to keep my computer cleaner. plus when i've reinstalled windows i just plug my flash drive back in and nothings lost from firefox. i also keep my programs in a file on the flash drive. i just reinstall everything and i'm ready within an hour or so. i run portable apps on a flash drive along with returnils virtual system, so far i haven't even had a cookie on my computer. i also have another flash drive i do my personal work on, it's locked down tight and when i remove the flash drive no personal information is left on my computer.; Like this Reply to this comment


by RADicaLSatDude April 26, 2008 1:12 PM PDT: Opera@USB for me or Opera Portable.

Opera@USB
http://www.opera-usb.com/operausben.htm

Opera Portable
http://www.kejut.com/operaportable; Like this Reply to this comment

by bighomer April 26, 2008 10:42 PM PDT

I never tried the actual portableapps suite, but I use their portable versions of some software, including firefox. Don't use a flash drive unless I'm going somewhere though. I stick all the apps in a freeware folder on my hd. When it's time for a fresh reinstall, I back up the folder to an external hd. Makes things a lot easier than reinstalling all those apps, and adjusting each one's individual settings.

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by DADSGETNDOWN May 8, 2008 2:51 AM PDT: As I can somewhat see that you don't technically insatll the programs on your
HDD. Maybe you should know that when you run them from your HDD. it leaves info on that computer. in the OS and registry.
you are somewaht defeating the most of the purposes of "portable apps"
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying it is wrong or anything, just letting you know a few things just incase.
It is nice to know you can use these programs and not technically have them
in your Add/Remove list huh ?
By the way, you can run them from CD too.
OH, P.S.S. you don't have to install the suite to use the usefull menu.
just install the "base Edition" and you can pick and choose what to install later.
AND I hope you backup those folders more often than just when you need a "fresh install"; Like this


by RicABlair April 27, 2008 1:18 PM PDT: Check out Defensive Computing guy onVCNET Blogs who preaches portable apps daily.; Like this Reply to this comment


by SGillman April 28, 2008 5:19 AM PDT: I've been using the PortableApps.com suite for about 18 months and I only have the highest praise for the software. Using the suite's menu interface and installing/updating apps couldn't be easier.

These days I test every piece of software I download to see if it will run without being installed. About 85% will run just fine if you install it, copy the file out of Program Files, uninstall it, then run the .exe out of the copied folder.; Like this Reply to this comment

by TaliJ April 29, 2008 11:29 PM PDT

where can I find portable applications for this software?

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by DADSGETNDOWN May 8, 2008 2:41 AM PDT: Lol.. if you found the software you found the apps.
http://portableapps.com; Like this


by kenney2k May 27, 2009 1:44 AM PDT: where can I find portable applications for this; Like this


by kkarto April 30, 2008 5:11 AM PDT: Like this Reply to this comment


by gerdami2 April 30, 2008 6:26 AM PDT: Moreover,
PortableApps allows you to run programs that your company's policy prevents from running since you have no administrative rights for an installation on your workstation.; Like this Reply to this comment