Re: Running Programs on USB Flash Drives

Canopus did pass the time by typing:
> I need to get an USB Flash Drive so that I can take a couple of portable
> programs with me when travelling.  I'll be needing to access my GPS device
> to save and load data to/from it using a stand alone program run direct
> from an exe and also run the portable Filezilla as an ftp client.  Is
> there any basic difference between the USB Flash Drives except for size
> and read/write speed?  I've seen one, Busbi 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive - with
> new U3 Technology
> http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BND4GI/ref=pd_ys_pym_a_2/026-1878821-0030858?%5Fencoding=UTF8
> which claims, quote:
>
> "Includes the new U3 Smart Drive from Clever-stuff. Clever-Stuff U3 Smart
> Drives are the second generation in USB Flash Drives technology and bring
> a new level of intelligence to the device. It is now possible to install
> programs to USB Flash Drives and the Launchpad acts as a one-click gateway
> to the installed applications or software portals.

This leads me to believe they have some sort of "middleware" installed on
the key that acts as a proxy for applications.

> "All 1GB and 2GB busbi USB keys carry the U3 platform, which offers the
> following attributes as well as mentioned above - user does not need admin
> rights (as software is run from the device). ...

That simply means if the software does not require installation (i.e. registry
information or dll's) then you can run it from the flash drive.
(or the middleware on the key takes care of this)

> ...The user leaves no traces on
> the host PC that they were ever there and the entire key can be password
> protected."

Erm.. that's bull.  Our monitoring software at work records and examines
processes that are running.  Now if your application doesn't write anything
to the hard drive then that might be true.

> but, can you not run stand alone applications from any Flash Drive and not
> leave traces to boot?  Is there anything particularly different with this
> drive to any other or is this just marketing blurb?

I would suspect market droid drool.  But then again I haven't examined this
product.

-- 
DougW