Often times I will try a piece of software or a product briefly and fail to see the point.  Not wanting to keep it installed, I remove it immediately.  The intention of the software or program is not initially clear.  This is the case for the Portable version of Firefox.  I had heard of it, but did not really understand why would I want a portable version.

Now, it becomes clear.  As a technology coordinator I often move from location to location, computer to computer.  I have a carefully orchestrated configuration on my desktop computers.  It includes shortcuts, passwords, add-ons, and a certain setup for ease of use and access for information stored in the cloud.  When I use someone else’s computers, I become frustrated because many of the tools I expect do not exist on the computers, and I have to take the long route.  Especially in regard to a particular URL that I frequently use, it becomes a long link clicking exercise to get to the desired location. 

With the Portable version of Firefox, I can install all my add-ons, bookmarks, and settings on a flash drive that I can carry with me.  This allows me to accomplish the same tasks on any computer anywhere without resorting to the long way.  It’s funny how many services exist to solve our problems that we are not totally unaware of until our frustrations drive us to revisit old possibilities.