Puppy Linux

For some time now it has been possible to run a computer off a CD or USB stick instead of the hard drive built into the computer. So how about taking your own computer setup with you on a USB stick and then at work or at your friend's place just plug in your USB stick and run your setup instead of what is on the computer you happen to be sitting at? If all you need is a web browser and some room for storing a few files then you can do it now.

Google are working on Chrome OS but I think that requires a Google login and it hasn't been released yet so I looked else where. First I tried xPUD which looked nice but I couldn't get it working the way I wanted so I moved on. Then I found UNetbootin. This a handy program which will make a bootable USB stick from a choice of linux distributions and other operating systems. Now I only had a 2GB USB stick spare so the full version Ubuntu wouldn't fit and neither would Lubuntu which is a slimmer version of Ubuntu so I kept looking.

Finally I decided to try PuppyLinux which I had been avoiding because of its name, maybe if it was called ExactlyWhatINeedLinux I would have tried it earlier. This is what I'm using now and I'm amazed what can run from less than 1GB on a USB stick.

Here is a list of things I like about PuppyLinux

• I can get onto the internet quicker with PuppyLinux than with Windows XP on the same machine.
• The files I save on the USB stick are encrypted.
• The desktop items are single click like in a browser rather than double click like in most interfaces.
• I can add programs, though not many with a 2GB USB stick.
• It is free.