Cameyo for Windows

User Reviews

• Possibly the best (and it's free for personal use)

  RayTech70December 18, 2013

  Pros

  Besides being free, it's quite reliable but only if you follow best practices-- some applications do not like the RAM method and in others you should specify which files should be expanded upon launch instead of remaining dormant and expanded when needed.

  Cons

  Packaging requires clean install methods on minimal windows (use VMWare player or Workstation for best results). The documentation is scant but does provide required information for successful packaging. I still cannot find out how much licensing costs: Cameyo does not return emails or even purchase inquiries. The splash screen can be changed (you have to know how to do it and the version supposedly for sale that makes it easy to change the logo is vaporware (well, maybe not but they never return emails or sales inquiries so it may as well be vaporware." I change the splash logo anyway.

  Summary

  If you follow best practices (build your virtual apps on a windows xp or windows 7 virtual machine in VMWare Player, then the application capture method is quick and painless. When possible, turn off all internet and after capturing, edit the package to remove non essential registry entries and files that are not required (if you know how to determine)... if done properly, captured applications can actually outperform native installs and you have control over whether or not settings are retained or flushed after each launch.

  ---

• Great if you follow best practices

  RayTech70December 18, 2013

  Pros

  Cameyo offers a lot of options that can be tweaked and run to make application virtualization work for 90+ % of the programs that should be candidates. You can specify which files are immediately unpacked at runtime, which executables should be launched (if any other than a menu) and whether or not the package itself should unpack to RAM and operate from there as opposed to it's virtual storage location. If you follow best practices: building applications onto clean installations such as Windows XP SP3 or even Windows 7 SP1 inside of VMWare player or Workstation you can get a nice clean capture that often runs FASTER than the traditional install.

  Cons

  Applications can lose icons if the package is edited (sometimes you can force them to reload, but not always) and documentation on advanced tweaking is not the greatest... but using advanced methods you can package just about anything that is worth packaging, such as utilities less than 2GB or applications that doe not require cross communications through technology like OLE2 or shared DLL (although you can summon apps through the context menus and environmental function calls.

  Summary

  If you want to deploy multiple applications good luck in getting any price quotes from Cameyo-- I have asked them over 4 times to give me the cost for licensing on developer and business related installs and have not heard back. Contrary to what others claim, the Cameyo splash logo can be altered if you know how to go about it-- I won't give that away, obviously, but even if you wanted to buy Cameyo to do your own branding you can't.

  ---

• Great Idea, Amazing Price, Needs Work

  Drake_MasterApril 20, 2013

  Pros

  Automation of packaging Fast snapshots Looks professional even though it's free It's free Stores your apps on their cloud automatically Access to cloud apps with easy downloading Basic features are simple to use Comes with amazing advanced features like virtual windows integration that makes the app look like it's installed (file associations, shortcuts, folders, etc), while it really isn't. Allows building/modifying portable apps from drag-and-drop from computer (i.e. not just by installation monitoring) Online packager works great, can even package from URLs

  Cons

  - Uses snapshot method. This is less efficient than monitoring method because it catches other changes such as firewall exceptions or Firefox profile accesses (if the installer auto-launches a web page) - To capture an install you have to actually install first. It doesn't have a sandbox installation environment. - No descriptions of apps in cloud, just names/categories - Packaged apps save changes in seperate folder, not into itself. Can't automatically update the packages - Advanced features quite advanced/confusing - Apps from cloud sometimes need advanced editing before they work - Cameyo itself (which is a portable app) leaves traces by default - Apps lose icons when modified

  Summary

  Great app for its simplicity. It works without the complexities of similar products so that anyone can use it. Great extra features. Unbelievable that it's free. Current features need some work and debugging, but it's free so I can't complain. How it works: Tell it to start monitoring. It takes a quick snapshot of the disk and registry (no warning not to use other programs though). Then you can go ahead and install any program you want to make portable. You can also open it and change any settings that you want to go into the portable. When done, tell Cameyo you're done. It takes another snapshot, compares the before and after and packages the changes. Then pops up a little menu on whether you wich to fine-tune the app or keep it as is. If you fine-tune, you can set its integration settings, trace-leaving settings, delete captured changes not caused by the install, fix errors from the capturing, set the .exe that should be run when the app is run (Cameyo does this automatically in most cases though), etc. And viola! You've a new portable app. You can finetune it at any time later or even start the finetuner for an "empty capture" then drag-and-drop folders from previous installs, other install-free software or self-written programs (or any other file/folder) and package that as a new portable app. I'll recommend Cameyo to anyone. It is particularly useful if you have an old computer and a new one. You can package and modify apps on the old computer (letting it take all the hits to the registry), then use the app on the new computer to have it run smoothly for years to come. It may be beneficial to run an uninstaller program while monitoring the installation with cameyo. Then you can completely uninstall the new program and keep the portable one (assuming you moved the new portable to another drive first). But this will greatly increase snapshot time.

  ---

• Absolutely great!

  gfxcamJuly 6, 2012

  Pros

  Generates virtual programs which I can take anywhere. Library of virtual programs keep my computer stable, fast.

  Cons

  Not all apps can't be virtualized.

  Summary

  Generates virtual applications. Virtual applications are much more convenient than regular programs in that: - they needn't be installed, they can just be copied & pasted between computers. - they don't interact with the real system's registry and files, and keep the computer safe and clean. Also provides a library of 500 free ready-to-use virtual apps.

  ---

• Great Program and it WORKS

  snodinnApril 18, 2012

  Pros

  Say you have a program that you use infrequently, and do not want it to clutter up your system. This is a perfect solution. Another reason to use it, if you don't have a laptop, you can carry the program with you on a USB memory stick or SD Card for use on another machine where the program isn't loaded.

  Cons

  I really don't have any cons. It does take quite awhile for the process, but once it is done it is done.

  Summary

  I have used the program quite extensively and really like it. I know there are others out there, that I haven't tried. But why would I want to try something else since Cameyo works.

  ---

• GREAT PROGRAM TO OBTAIN PORTABLE .EXE PROGRAMS.

  capitanfloriusDecember 3, 2011

  Pros

  GREAT PROGRAM ALL FREE - AND PORTABLE Cameyo is a program to transform programs that require the installation in programs "portable" In practice, you run the program "Camey 1.7.634.exe click on Capture installation. Part above the tray a process in which the program "take snapshot before the installation" that lasts about few minutes. At the end it notify you that you can install the program that interests. Finished installing warns us that must take a new snapshot after the installation that lasts the same time. A warning appears that the program was created portable program .exe in: "documents \ Camey Packages". We can take this file and run it on a stick, simply double clic. Subsequently, the program already installed, it can be uninstalled and you can use the "portable" program.

  Cons

  No cons at this time

  Summary

  I strong recommand this software to all users that prefer to have portable program to use the same on USB device or removable hard disk, instead of installable program.

  ---

• Very good app, useful.

  ErictionalSeptember 18, 2011

  Pros

  capturing snapshots

  Cons

  not 100% compatible with programs, not exactly "persistent"

  Summary

  ---

• Good Idea, But not effective.

  An_OnumaAugust 22, 2011

  Pros

  Easy to Use.

  Cons

  Takes too long to create the before and after computer images. Tried this on 2 different programs, neither package worked.

  Summary

  I have a decent computer. Quad core, 8gb ram, etc... Product took over 20 minutes to create the before and after images. I created 2 packages with this and neither worked after they were created and saved. The only reason that I gave this 2 stars was because this app in itself is portable. It has a clean interface. And It's a great idea, if it would just work correctly.

  ---

• Like it, but

  snodinnJune 12, 2011

  Pros

  Wow, I have a few programs that won't even let me move them from computer to computer, so if this program works I do not have to be concerned. Just use my stick.

  Cons

  Seems to miss .dll's and it doesn't appear to work with some programs.

  Summary

  I believe it is well worth a try. At work we have one program that is very important that the developers have decided to use Cameyo. Most of it is working up to the part where we are supposed to send the report. This may have more to do with the developers using Access to build this program then it does with Cameyo. There are so many variables working with programs, I.e. the operating system, the computer hardware, etc. I like the program concept, and for those programs where I would like some portability I will certainly try and use Cameyo.

  ---

• an amazing and helpful software

  erronimusApril 13, 2011

  Pros

  You can't loose the serial# of your application any more because it is built in in the new "exe" file..

  Cons

  The software installed with the help of Cameyo cannot be reinstalled on your machine after a crash or some other necessary repair installation of the operational system, it can only be run in virtual mode.

  Summary

  Nice and helpful software

  ---

• Show reviewsHide reviews
• Rate it