USB memory sticks are great to move data files from one computer to another, but there are many other things you can do with a USB memory stick. While many IT professionals already use memory sticks for advanced functionality, many consumers don’t even know that additional functionality exist. For example, you can host a lot of mobile applications on your pen drive. One of the most popular applications for this purpose is the portable Firefox. Firefox is a great open source web browser and the portable version allows you to use it even on locked down computers at work or in a public library. Insert the USB stick and that’s it. Even more applications are available – Such as FTP software.
If you develop websites, it would be a great idea to install a LAMP configuration on your memory stick to use it on multiple computers. LAMP basically means installing Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP. Just one simple installation and that’s everything you need. And yes – you can actually boot an entire operating system from a USB stick.
A great feature about this is that you can use it for extra security. This is one of my favorites actually. Search on Google for the “Predator application”, which will require you to have your USB stick to login to your computer. Once you pull the USB stick out, nobody can log into your computer. The USB Stick (and the associated application) is needed to unlock your computer.
Moreover, you can use your USB stick as a multimedia player. If you run Windows Vista a memory stick can be used to expand your computer’s memory – as long as it is Ready Boost certified. Many older computers cannot carry more physical memory and so the memory expansion via USB memory stick is a cheap and easy way to make that old computer go the extra mile and to reduce the need for a new computer.