Top Four famous portable launchers comparison - PortableApps, Prayaya V3, Ceedo, CodySafe

A portable app is a computer program which allows you carry around and use on any computers. It is very convenient for the people who often travel for business without laptop, using friend’s computer or surfing on cyber bar. When using someone else’s computer, you’ll most likely find yourself frustration why a newer version of Microsoft Word is not installed so you could not open your .docx files. Or you could not access to your favorite website because you do not remember the web address, id and password on the foreign PC.

This week, I tested four popular portable launchers on Windows Platform, which provide a more efficient way of running programs on USB device. These portable launchers help you use carry your favorite computer programs along with all of your bookmarks, settings, email and more with you, and use them on any PC as your own PC.

Regards to these four portable launchers, none of the solutions is perfect; each has its strengths and weaknesses. Below is the comparison and hope it will help you know more about them and choose the right one for you.

BTW, some guys may suggest U3 or Mojopac, but when I tried to download, install, and check information on their official websites, it seems that they have stopped developing or do not concentrate on personal use for long time. So I think the test of U3 and Mojopac shall be ignored.

PortableApp.com

PortableApps, the most famous launcher, I tested the suite light version, which contains more than 10 open source apps after installed. Although there are 10 more apps in it, the download and installation is quick, and the startup time of PortableApps is the best in these four launchers. If you require more apps, you can download and install more portable apps from the website http://www.portableapps.com/, there are about 100 daily use apps for free download and update every week. The most important is, all the software on the website is free and open source.

Pros:

1. The launcher and app pack is complete free;

2. Fast running speed;

3. Package some daily use applications;

Cons:

1. Do not support some well-know applications such as MS Office, MSN Messenger, iTunes, etc.

2. Only support adding new app with the Portableapps.com format.

3. Do not allow same application running at the same time (such as running portable firefox is not allow when your host PC already runs a firefox)

4. Few personal settings

Prayaya V3

Prayaya V3 is the most different with other 3 launchers. After the installation is done, you must be surprised that it’s not only a portable menu utility, but also a mini operating system. You could not image that this only 6 MB size launcher contains its own registry, control panel, desktop, system tools and nearly the same interface as Microsoft Windows OS. Because it has an independent registry, so in V3, you could simply download your favorite program from the web, or install it directly from a CD. After the installation is done, the new programs will immediately show up on the Start Menu of V3. As V3 is a mini operation system separated to the host system, you could even run the same program as the host PC, but do not disturb the program on the host PC.

With Prayaya V3, you could carry your whole working environment to any PC with your preference setting for use.

Pros:

1. Install standard Windows applications without having to make any modifications to them.;

2. Customize system setting such as set desktop wallpaper, font size, quick launcher bar, etc;

3. Copy and paste files and contents between host PC and V3 environment;

4. The same interface as the host pc Windows System;

5. Support the most daily use software in these four launchers;

6. The only one launcher in this test contains command line function;

Cons:

1. Free to try, but shall pay to continue use after 30 days free try;

2. The load time shall be faster;

3. Only English and Chinese language for choose;

4. Do not support 64 bits Windows Operating System；

5. Do not support Windows Vista

Ceedo Personal

Ceedo is a portable application menu utility that allows you to install software on a USB flash drive or any USB portable drive and take your apps, settings and files with you wherever you go. The spotlight of Ceedo is the Argo Application Installer. Ceedo has an add-on, call Argo Application Installer (Argo) after you got the Argo, you could install unlimited software on Ceedo.

Pros:

1. Well interface design

2. Support unlimited software directly install (Need Argo add-on)

Cons:

1. Slow startup speed.

2. Only work on USB device, not local harddisk

3. Both the Ceedo Personal and Argo Application Installer are shareware (Not Free)

CodySafe Free

A free alternative to the PortableApps, CodySafe allow you to manage, group, sort and launch programs directly from your USB drive or local harddisk.

The CodySafe interface is very similar to Vista-style start menu which allow you to Manage your documents, multimedia files and pictures on your removable media. You can also set your own CodySafe settings and choose which applications you’d like to auto run. it also come with AutoRun virus protection (ViruSense) tools which Detect and prevent virus infection.

Pros:

1. Freeware;

2. With nice graphical user interface;

3. Many useful building assistant tools.

Cons:

1. Fewest applications compatible in these four launchers;

2. Do not support applications directly install;

3. No live chat support on the web;