This is from the "i.t." magazine, and an article written by Nimesh Dubey nimishdubey@yahoo.com -- which I found rather interesting. Some of it is Free/Libre and Open Source Software-related. -FN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Can you install an operating system be installed on a thumb drive? This is not possible at the moment with a Windows or Mac OS. But GNU/Linux is very much of an option. See Flash Linux: http://sourceforge.net/projects/flashlinux
Includes hardware detection, auto configuration and a Gnome 2.8 desktop. Also comes bundled with an office suite, a browser and some other basic applications. You'll need a 256 MB thumb drive to install all of this.
Windows CE works on a thumb drive, using the Windows CD Device Emulator. It works only with a Windows PC. See more at http://blogs.msdn.com/smakofsky/archive/2004/12/20/328001.aspx
Office suites: OpenOffice is your best, and so far only, option. You'll need plenty of space (about 90MB) if you wish to avail of all its features. You can download it from http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/portable_openoffice/
The OpenOffice website states that you will need at least 256MB capacity to be able to run OpenOffice on it. But the author says you'd probably need a 512MB one if you wish to save documents as well as install and use other applications on it.
AbiWord is being supported with some tweaking by Craigweb -- http://craigweb.net/abiwordftd/ You can download AbiWorld from http://sourceforge.net/projects/abiwordftd
Mozilla's Portable Thunderbird is a runaway winner in the category of thumbdrive-based email clients, says Dubey. Download from http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_thunderbird/
Mozilla rules supreme in the browser category too. Download from http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_firefox/
Want an organiser/planner? EssentialPIM allows you to access your daily schedule as well as phone numbers and addresses from any computer, without even going online. http://www.essentialpim.com
Mozilla also has a calendar application called Portable Sunbird, but it is much more basic in nature, and suitable only for scheduling and reviewing appointments. See http://johnhaller.com/jh/mozilla/portable_sunbird/
Music players anyone? XM Player is http://www.un4seen.com/download.cgi?xmplay32 -- it's just 300KB!
Hope you find this useful. FN