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    portable software check

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by potentv, Apr 15, 2009.

  1. potentv

    potentv Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi again lads,

    I just wanted to ask a quick question. I found a lot of my favourite apps in a portable form on softpedia, like:

    firefox/chrome
    imgburn
    vlc media player
    notepad ++
    file zilla
    etc.

    Is there some sort of disadvantage of using these apps in a portable form like loss of speed or something like this? or is it only beneficial in terms of a clean registry?

    many thanks :D
     
    potentv, Apr 15, 2009
    #1
  2. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

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    The premise is more about not having to install them to use them, they can go where you go. It's great for corporate environments that don't allow installations by regular users. Speed isn't the utmost concern though only apps that cache alot (like firefox/chrome) "might" see a performance hit in usage.
    I have used VLC and a few other portable apps and the apps run fast.
     
    goofball, Apr 15, 2009
    #2
  3. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    You'll definetly loose some performance if you use portable apps. Depending on the way the portable application is made, you might not be able to see the difference.
     
    jackluo923, Apr 15, 2009
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  4. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    newsposter, Apr 15, 2009
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  5. KimoT

    KimoT Are we not men?

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    I don't see any difference with most apps on an external drive. I do have one flash drive that runs slow, but that's the speed of the flash memory, not anything to do with the apps. I run Firefox, Gimp, CCleaner, VLC player on a regular basis.
     
    KimoT, Apr 15, 2009
    #5
  6. Hiker

    Hiker Notebook Deity

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    Is there anyway to tell how fast a flash drive is? I have a Sandisk 256K Cruzer that's fairly fast but a 4 gig is much slower
     
    Hiker, Apr 15, 2009
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  7. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

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    run the same benchmark tools that you would use on a hard drive. HDTune, HDTach, or Atto. You could use Crystalmark too if you like.
     
    goofball, Apr 15, 2009
    #7
  8. Hiker

    Hiker Notebook Deity

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    Thanks HD Tune is a neat little tool.

    Ideally, I'd like to know how fast the USB is before I purchase it.
     
    Hiker, Apr 15, 2009
    #8