Portable Apps vs. U3

Apps on a stick - what's best

What is portable software?

1. It does not require installation to the PC

2. Settings and configuration are with the software and not the PC

3. It leaves no (or virtually no) footprint on the PC (no registry keys or temporary files)

U3

Available on SanDisk Cruiser, Intuix Smart drive, PNY Attaché, and Memorex Mini TravelDrive

The Launchpad menuing system has advertising on it

Is a hardware based interface (will only run on specific hardware)

Portable Apps

Available on any USB drive

Comes in 3 flavors (3 different editions)

PortableApps Suite (Standard Edition): ClamWin Portable (antivirus), Mozilla Firefox - Portable Edition (web browser), Gaim Portable (instant messaging), OpenOffice.org Portable (office suite), Sudoku Portable (puzzle game), Mozilla Sunbird - Portable Edition (calendar/task manager) and Mozilla Thunderbird - Portable Edition (email client) and runs comfortably from a 512MB drive. (89.5MB (download), ~260MB (installed))

PortableApps Suite (Lite Edition): Uses AbiWord Portable (word processor) instead of OpenOffice.org Portable and runs comfortably from a 256MB drive.(30.4MB (download), ~105MB (installed))

PortableApps Suite (Base Edition): If you'd like to pick and choose exactly which apps to include, you can try Portable Apps Suite (Base Edition). This is a stripped down package with just the PortableApps Menu, PortableApps Backup utility and custom folders, icons and autorun. It's less than 1MB installed, so it's an option for smaller drives. (0.7MB (download), 1MB (installed))

U3 Pro's• Pre-loaded on select flash drives• Apps in compressed format• Auto-run apps via CD-ROM emulation • It can be uninstalled• Greater selection of software

U3 Con's• It is slow• Downloads may require purchase• It must be uninstalled for full use of the stick• Once uninstalled it cannot be reinstalled except on SanDisk

products (may cause catastrophic hardware failure)• Platform not user installable• Uses 2 drive letters• Uninstalling requires a Windows program• Is a hardware based interface (will only run on specific

hardware)• Lock ups or freezes are possible with some CD burning

software• Proprietary platform owned by SanDisk• Improper removal can cause catastrophic data loss

Portable Apps Pro's• Runs on any USB storage• Runs on Windows 98 and up• User installable• Not Proprietary - Free / OpenSource• It is fast• Uses only one drive letter• More robust (no data loss)• All downloads are free• It can be reinstalled• Uninstalling is easy• Skins and themes being tested• Easily add any portable software you want to the

PortableApps.com Menu

Portable Apps Con's• Does not come preinstalled• It does not allow shareware or commercial software• A delay between the release of an application and its

availability as a portable version• A limited number of applications available compared to other

platforms• Does not automatically run on computers with autorun

enabled

Competing products:PendriveApps has software that runs directly from a USB stick (no menu)

Ceedo developed for companies to have a "fully self-contained, mission-specific portable desktop environment" for its employees (not free).Runs on any USB storage.Apps are uncompressed.InstallAnything can move Windows apps to Ceedo.Can't auto-run apps.$34.99; 30-day free trial

Webliography• http://www.everythingusb.com/software.html• http://www.everythingusb.com/u3.html• http://www.everythingusb.com/portableapps_suite.html• http://www.everythingusb.com/ceedo.html• http://www.ceedo.com/• http://www.u3.com/• http://portableapps.com/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_portable_software• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U3• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PortableApps.com• http://www.pendriveapps.com/• http://www.sandisk.com/DriverDownload/index.asp