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Going Ultra - The Zero Footprint Grail
In wake of the federal government's decision that they own your notebook computer plus all your flash keys and your first-born child, coupled with the costs and hassle of commercial flying, travelers are looking at alternatives to data-filled laptop computers. Besides, laptops are heavy, especially when you add in the battery, and then you have to schlep all those geeky-tchotchkes we stuff inside the bag. My eyes are a little too old to use my phone exclusively (it works for on-the-fly email and an occasional text message) but it doesn't get me quickly to web-based apps that I need for business. What to do?Enter Ultra Mobile computing. From 7" to 11" screens, with Vista or XP operating systems, 2-lb ultra portable computers are entering the business landscape. Costs range from $300 - $2000 and up (US$) and what they offer may be just what you need. The trick is to buy only what you need so it's both portable and affordable. For example, I need Word and Excel when traveling but I hardly need to load Access or Publisher so a smaller hard drive works fine - what I really want is a web browser and speedy wireless Internet with the ability to VPN. We're a Windows shop, so Outlook Web Access (browser-based) takes care of email needs.
Fundamentally just a tiny computer, an ultraportable fits into a larger purse or in your briefcase (yay! no laptop bag to stuff into the overhead compartment!). Once you struggle through choosing to install only those programs you absolutely have to have because the hard disk is going to be significantly smaller than your 160+ Gb workstation, look into the free and low-cost portable applications that take little drive space and require almost no installation so your compact hard drive doesn't get crowded.
But what about hauling all my files with me if I don't have the luxury of a VPN or I haven't figured out yet how to remote into my desktop back in the office (which I remembered to leave ON during my trip)?
The key? For your ultra-portable machine, get applications that fit on a Flash key or iPod with as close to "zero footprint" as possible. Zero footprint? These are applications that remove all temporary files/registry settings once the program has exited. If you create a document, you can move it as well to a portable storage device, like a Flash key. No trace left behind and less for the TSA to explore when they seize your computer at the border.
MojoPac (only the lite version is free) lets you carry your personal apps, like Outlook, games and IM, files and your desktop settings on a portable USB device or iPod. (see comparison of products here)
PortableApps.com provides a free suite that isn't limited or trial. No ads, they promise. It's a collection of portable apps that includes a web browser, email client, office suite, calendar/scheduler, IM, antivirus, audio player, password manager, backup utility and integrated menu (plus a few games). The complete list is here. It's less than 1.2mb installed and is a handy portable grouping of free apps in one easy download.
Prayaya V3 is a mini-Windows which allows you to have your required programs and data on a USB Flash Drive or any portable storage devices. It lets you carry your data files, settings and applications (such as Outlook, Mozilla Firefox, MSN) on a USB storage device or iPod. Best, they promise, it leaves no trace on the host PC. It comes with a 30-day free trial.
Check the Wikipedia list of portable software (apps that don't require installation).
Don't forget to load an application launcher that can help manage your ultra-portable apps. Creedo Personal is $39 and promises to create a portable virtual desktop of your favorite Windows apps that can be carried on your iPod or other portable device.
Launchy (reviewed here) is an open source keystroke launcher for Windows. It launches more than programs (like your documents, folders, bookmarks) but some are not impressed with Launchy's free-version resource-hogging. (Mac users might want to use Namely but my Mac friends tell me they rarely need such app managers.)
Always check the Google mobile site to see what they're giving away for your phone through a direct link sent to your phone.
Having seen first-hand how my Kid #1 found a local store while standing on Broadway near 88th street using his Blackberry and Google mobile, I've decided that I lied when I said my Q would do everything I needed in the foreseeable future (or perhaps my future is simply always changing). I wish they would invent Lasik eye surgery for "over 40 eyes" so I could see all of these little devices without first digging for my glasses.
Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsLee MathewsAug 22nd 2008 2:12PM
People get so down on the ultraportables...why? My MSI Wind runs a standard 2.5" sata drive which I'll upgrade to a 7200RPM 250GB sata at some point, and it'll have more storage than my workstation at work - and it easily fits in my manpurse. ;-)
hazardAug 23rd 2008 11:03AM
Yep the MSI Wind is fantastic kit and it's 80GB HDD is more than enough room to fit anything you're likely to use on it. I got one for my partner and set it up like a standard laptop. In fact the factory install contained a full version of Office 2007!? No need to worry about zero footprint on these babies :)
Fred ThompsonAug 22nd 2008 2:26PM
More ideas:
1) Use external USB hard drives like the WD Passport to store non-essential items like reference files of letters. Some of the handheld media players have good-sized screens and have been hacked to allow viewing PDFs and other documents. Save the laptop for when you must process data, read it on the portable device.
2.1) Use a Linux LiveCD to get up an running quickly without a large hard drive.
2.2) There are various portable modifications for Windows that can be used with NLite, VLite, etc. Strip out the stuff that Windows doesn't really need to reduce space.
3) Store non-critical data in ZIP files and mount them as CDs using Pismo File Mount.
4) Run Notebook Hardware Control Personal Edition to reduce power consumption.
5) Paranoid? Save your critical documents to memory cards in your phone, camera, camcorder, etc. There are also flash cards that look like "normal" key fobs. Some pens include USB flash memory.
6) Don't be stupid. Stay away from the dark side and don't carry any "art" or "human interest" files.
7) Take care of your eyes. There's a reason the "blind man's stitch" got its name...
Fred ThompsonAug 24th 2008 2:50AM
More thoughts:
1) It's quite common for installers of small programs to do nothing other than make a directory, copy files into it, make a shortcut and add uninstall entries in the registry which point to the shortcuts and folders.
2) Use a sandbox like Sandboxie to ensure you don't save data to the hard drive. Paranoid, I know, but I guess some people are...
Sue PolinskyAug 22nd 2008 6:04PM
Hi Fred,
Your ideas are pretty inspired! Given that a lot of the readers (of my small business ideas, anyway) are, well, small business people, they might just not understand a lot of what you wrote. Linux, good as it is (and I have a Linux box, right here, by my right foot, next to a Vista machine and one sporting XP Pro), may just not be a small businesser's solution yet.
But when you wrote this: "...uninstall entries in the registry..." I had to giggle. My clients are absolutely not allowed to touch their registry files (typed very patronizingly-sounding, I'm sure) and I doubt many of them know what they are.
The "art or human interest" comment? Too funny. But too real.
All that said (or typed), one or two of your ideas are pretty good for my needs and I might just use them.
irsmartAug 22nd 2008 11:05PM
The portableapps.com suite of programs is only 1.2 MEGAbytes when installed? OpenOffice alone is over 200mb. Do you mean GIGAbytes or am I missing something?
Fred ThompsonAug 24th 2008 9:29PM
Sue, I cannot disagree with you more. You wandered off topic in your reply to me about Linux and most certainly do show a very clear sense of disdain and condescension towards "small business owners." You seem to be totally unaware of the nature of this blog and the people who come here. With that attitude, you're more likely to hurt your "clients" than help them. You seem like the classic "consultant."
You also displayed an appalling lack of historical knowledge about how customs works and the legality of entering the U.S., citizen or not.