U3

don't know if you guys have heard about this already, but there is a recent development in USB drives (i just found out about this while i was researching the new SanDisk Cruzer Mini 2 GB drive). its called U3. here's what it does: "the open-standard U3 platform allows users to take their applications, not just data, with them to any USB-equipped Windows PC and to launch them with as little as two clicks"

true, there were already portable apps for USB drives a while back, but now there seems to be a concerted effort to standardize this feature and make it easier to store your own data and applications and work on any computer running Windows XP/2000 (Vista support is supposed to come soon). now with a 2 GB or 4 GB drive, you can have pretty decent portability at a fraction of the cost of a laptop! here's a list of software that you can potentially install (there are free, trial and paid software).

unfortunately you have to purchase U3 enabled/preloaded USB drives for this to work ( i.e. you cannot install it on a regular USB drive...see FAQ # 6)

still...this would've been pretty sweet to have when i was in school!

here's some other good references on this technology:

http://nedwolf.com/Portable-Freeware-With-U3.htm
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1861681,00.asp