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Filed under: Microsoft

Microsoft working on Startkey flash drive software platform

USB flash driveMicrosoft is reportedly working on a system that will allow users to run software and store system settings on USB flash drives. Microsoft is working with SanDisk to develop something called StartKey, which will be a replacement for the U3 software that allows users to install and run applications from a flash drive.

StartKey will allow for further integration with Windows than you get from U3 or other portable application technologies. For example, you'll be able to store things like your desktop wallpaper, icons, and contact lists which means you can plug a StartKey drive into any computer and experience your familiar desktop environment.

For the most part, it feels to us like Microsoft is reinventing the wheel here. You can already install Firefox, Thunderbird, Pidgin, and OpenOffice.org on a flash drive. Do you really care that much about carrying your wallpaper around? On the other hand, we're sure there would be some folks who would prefer to install Outlook, Office, and maybe even Internet Explorer on a flash drive, so if that's what Microsoft has in mind, StartKey could be something to keep an eye on.

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