How PortableApps, Hopedot VOS, Ceedo and Prayaya V3 differ from each other

After I found out a new portable launcher—Hopedot VOS, I suddenly realize that there have been quite a number of portable launchers in the market, e.g., PortableApps, Ceedo, Prayaya V3 and other less famous softwares. Some of my blog readers asked me which launcher is the best. Well, it’s really a hard question to answer. Each product has its own highlight and competitive advantage. To choose the right one, we not only need to list out the pros and cons of all portable launchers. But most importantly, we have to know our actual demand and requirements, not just what the products can do for us.

Along with the release of more and more free portable applications, it is obvious that the demand of people’s requiring a portable and convenient PC workspace anywhere is growing rapidly. A USB drive equipped with all kinds of portable applications, beyond doubt, saves us a lot of troubles, like carrying around heavy laptops on business travel, waiting for the reinstallation after system breakdown, or getting upset for no games to play on grandpa’s computer. However, that is far away from our expectation of running all the personalized PC stuffs on any computers we access to. To put it simply, we want the USB drive to generate an operating system the same as any Windows OS (like Hopedot VOS and Prayaya V3 do), and then we can do things exactly the same as on our personal computer.

When I decided to draw the following table to compare PortableApps, Hopedot VOS, Ceedo and Prayaya V3 in the following aspects, I’m not trying to define which one is the best. In fact, I personally appreciate them a lot for the convenience brought to my PC life and satisfy my different needs respectively. The table is mainly a reference for those who want to know more about these four launchers to meet their demand.

From the above comparison, we can see that PortableApps basically focus on portables applications on USB drives. Its platform has published a large number of freeware portables apps. The software is free to download as well. Maybe, for most of people, the simpler, the better.

                                                                                

Hopedot VOS has nearly all the features I think about, except that both the Standard Edition and Security Edition don’t support to run on computers controlled by administrative rights. I have tried to email Hopedot company and got the feedback that they can customize a new version to work under no administrative rights if needed. I like its desktop interface like Windows OS and easy-to-manage toolbar the most.

Hopedot VOS Security Edition toolbar

Ceedo is good enough if it can be installed in the local hard drive of the host computer as Hopedot VOS and Prayaya V3 do. It’s expensive but I should say it is worth the money.

Although it’s great that Prayaya is free now, I also notice a little difference between the free version and the previous purchased version. Prayaya’s toolbar has become very simple, only retain the “switch” button to switch back and forth between two Prayaya’s system and the host system. That’s why we can’t lock the screen or change to small window mode now.

V3 toolbar of the purchased version

V3 toolbar of the free version

In general, each portable launcher is not perfect. We will never know which one is the best fit for our needs if we don’t try. PortableApps and Prayaya are free. Hopedot VOS’s trial versions are free to download as well. It allows users to try 100 times and all the features are fully functional. It’s a pity that Ceedo doesn’t provide free download. 

Hopedot VOS—Another Promising Portable Launcher competing with PortableApps, Prayaya V3, and Ceedo

I once wrote an article about the comparison of PortableApps, Prayaya V3, Ceedo, CodySafe, and granted them as top four famous portable launchers at that time. But now I want to add Hopedot VOS to the list of TOP members in portable launchers market. Readers who didn’t know much about the above mentioned launchers can refer to my previous article to have a warm up (TopFour famous portable launchers comparison - PortableApps, Prayaya V3, Ceedo, CodySafe).

As far as I know, PortableApps remains the same—only supporting portable applications while Ceedo develops in different ways and keeps updating new versions of product. CodySafe seems to stagnate with no updates. However, the good news is that Prayaya V3 is free in the market now. I will be looking forward to Prayaya’s next move.

The concept of Hopedot VOS is very similar to Prayaya V3 to some extent. It’s not only a portable menu utility, but also a virtual operating system creator. VOS system will be isolated from the host system with its independent registry. Thus, no virus infection between the two systems happens and no trace will be left at the host system. You can run the same program in VOS system, but do not disturb the program running in the host system. Furthermore, Hopedot VOS supports the installation of unlimited standard softwares, not just limited to portable apps. With Hopedot VOS, you can run the virtual operating system just like using any Windows systems with your own desktop interface, familiar apps and personal stuff.

Hopedot VOS Desktop

What interests me the most about Hopedot VOS is that it has a Security Edition in addition to the Standard Edition. I have tried to install the Security Edition and found that it is quite suitable for those who are in great need of guaranteeing no information leakage inside of outside of office. For example, the accounting department of a company is always looking for solutions to protect all the confidential data and archives. Hopedot VOS Security Edition may be the answer for that issue.

You can’t easily move the files between the VOS Security system and the host system. If you want to export a file from VOS system to the host system, you have to find and click the “Export” button        

at the VOS toolbar:

Then a box will pop up requiring you to input the safety export password:

Safety Export Tools

After that, a small window will show up to let you choose the file you want to export to the host system. It's worth mentioning that every time you try to import or export files, you need to input the data security management password, which was set up in the process of VOS installation. The management password could be set different from login password and account password. That is, even though someone knows your VOS account password, they can’t copy your personal data without the management password.

In information age, while USB drives easily transfer data from A’s computer to B’s notebook, information security is certainly the biggest concern of a company, especially when their staffs have to work outside of office sometimes. Obviously, Hopedot VOS have sensed this customer need and introduced the Security Edition into the market while other portable launchers are still focusing on portability function. That is why I think Hopedot VOS will be one of the most promising portable launchers. However, it is a pity that Hopedot VOS doesn’t support the 64bits of Windows 7 right now. Hopefully the developer will publish the compatible versions soon.