Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware, Open Source, Windows x64
4 portable app suites to power up your USB flash drive
by Lee Mathews Jun 22nd 2009 at 10:00AM
Portable applications suites are a great way to get your hands on a ton of useful software with minimal fuss. Got a new flash drive, or maybe an old one you don't know what to do with?Throw one of these suites on it and you've got an instant software Swiss Army Knife.
PortableApps.com - John T. Haller's project is the most well-known suite on the 'net. It includes Firefox, OpenOffice (or AbiWord in the light version), Pidgin, Thunderbird, Sunbird, Sumatra PDF, KeePass, and more. Haller is very good for keeping the core up-to-date - you'll usually see new versions of the Mozilla apps the same day they're released.
LiberKey - The Ultimate version will take up half a gig on your drive, and it's packed with useful programs, including technician favorites like CPU-Z, RegShot, Revo Uninstaller, Unlocker. There are also loads of multimedia, networking, and internet apps. The 180Mb basic version is a lot like PortableApps with the addition of Piriform's tools (CCleaner, Defraggler, Recuva). They've got a handy comparison chart posted as well. One omission worth noting: OpenOffice.
Lupo PenSuite - In addition to a giant list of portable applications, Lupo also includes links to popular web-based apps like Flickr, G.ho.st, PixIr, RTM, Virustotal, and Zoho. Though, if you're using a portable browser you likely have all your favorite web apps bookmarked there anyway. If you don't need the full 300Mb, there's also a lite (90Mb) version which is like the PortableApps core with several technician's tools bolted on.
As noted by LOC in the comments: "The Lupo PenSuite does have a page with links to many other portable
or slim install browsers such as Chrome and Opera etc. (Also, CrazyBrowser and other lesser known browsers)" - Thanks!
WinPenPack - WinPenPack offers five different versions. There's the mammoth 2Gb Ultimate version (not every portable Windows application ever, but close enough), 370Mb essentials, and packs tailored for students, gamers, and web developers.
I was a little surprised to see that only one of these (Lupo Full) includes a browser other than Firefox (it includes Opera as well). For Chrome on the go, you can download Carsten Knoblauch's portable version or SRWare Iron portable.
I don't know if this is a labor of love or merely the brainchild of four very gifted games designers, but Level Up is a really weird mash-up of gaming elements that you have probably never seen in a Flash game before.
Let's start with the premise itself: Groundhog Day meets Memento. The game experience revolves around 'days': you explore the world and the clock slowly ticks towards the evening. You bounce around picking up gems and talking to the denizens of 'Level Upland'. Eventually you feel tired and head back to ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Malteserr said 10:35AM on 6-22-2009
Great post. I only knew about Portableapps in that list but I don't think I'm the only one :)
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kayos said 11:18AM on 6-22-2009
winpenpack doesnt work.
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AlasdairGF said 11:46AM on 6-22-2009
There's also the Scottish JISC's "EduApps" at http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/eduapps/index.php. Interesting feature is that it will build a custom package for you to download & install on a memory stick based on apps you select (called "MyApps"). Tried this myself and it works almost 100% - but a couple of the apps didn't end up on the menu & I had to add them manually. Uses the ASuite system (http://www.salvadorsoftware.com/software/asuite) for the app launcher, pretty straightforward.
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Dan said 12:19PM on 6-22-2009
I may be one of the few road warriors that does not travel with a portable computer. I do take several USB Flash drives with me.
You would think that everybody travels with a portable computer but more and more hotel chains are putting in computer center to cater to people without laptops. A 20 year old Embassy Suites I stay at recently added a computer center.
The big problem that has emerged recently is that many/most are locking down their computer access to their USB ports. Many will not recognize the USB port and the rest will not allow you to run applications from the USB port. So, if the computer is not loaded with the latest version of Adobe, you are out of luck.
They accomplish this with a third part program like SiteKiosk. This is a problem for me because I put my password management program (RoboForm) on my USB drive. This results in my being unable to access my airline reservation and getting a boarding pass. I only see one way around this and that is to have all your data online using programs such as Google word processing, etc.
I think that this is a little bit of overkill. The computers in the semi-public center should be isolated from the rest of the hotel computers (to prevent infection) and to lighten up on the security so that security conscience people can use
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Kaushik said 12:27PM on 6-22-2009
Few more:
SSuite - http://www.ssuitesoft.com/ssuiteportable.htm
JUDE - http://www.jontylovell.net/page.php?id=15
credit:http://www.instantfundas.com/2009/01/5-free-portable-application-suites.html
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LOC said 2:56PM on 6-22-2009
The Lupo PenSuite does have a page with links to many other portable or slim install browsers such as Chrome and Opera etc. (Also, CrazyBrowser and other lesser known browsers)
I gotta admit, I only knew of the PortableApps Suite until I saw this post. I''ll try out the Lupo and LiberKey suites. They both look quite well put together.
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Joe said 3:45PM on 6-22-2009
I read at informationweek.com (see link below) that "LiberKey" has been using other sites I.P. without permission or giving credit.
Not sure about all that but I am going to stick with #1 on the list - PortableApps.com
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2009/06/liberkey_thats.html;jsessionid=G3VKAVZVNYYFGQSNDLPCKHSCJUNN2JVN
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Bryan Price said 4:06PM on 6-22-2009
WinPenPack requires a login!
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Josh said 6:43PM on 6-22-2009
One website! PortableAppZ.BlogSpot.com! They have Chrome, Firefox, and so many other applications that you will use every day! And he updates his apps daily!
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archpope said 9:22PM on 6-22-2009
Just to point out, while it is a great site, almost all the software found therein is pirated.
Josh said 9:26PM on 6-22-2009
Your not the first person to say that, and you won't be the last. Downloading From FrostWire and most Torrents are illegal to. But not everyone follows the rules. http://portableappz.blogspot.com/
AndrewNoNumbers said 6:32PM on 6-26-2009
I try to use only Dropbox and email now since I keep losing my flash drives. But this is the one thing that makes flash drives still useful occasionally.
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Eraster said 9:11AM on 7-08-2009
I prefer winpenpack, it works perfectly and includes programs really portable. Lupo pensuite is not a productive project, it is a clone. It takes softwares developed by others (www.winpenpack.com, portableapps..) everywhere and it doesn't create anything.
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