All in about 80MB:
Puppy Linux: OS, dozens of applications for word processing,
graphics, audio, video, email, browsing, chat, etc.
I've been using Puppy Linux for some time now, all from a 1GB Flash Drive USB memory stick.
Most of the stick I use for storage. Puppy Linux OS and all of the Applications run from a compressed RAM drive in regular system memory. Works on anything from 486 and up, with mimimal RAM requirements. No hard drive needed.
Shutdown and all your changes are saved to the USB stick.
Go plug into another computer,
boot up the stick. Pick up right where you left off.
PC hard drives left untouched.
Very Friendly, Very Easy,
just download the latest version .iso file, burn to CD,
boot PC from the CD, Then plug in a USB stick and run the Install to USB wizard.
Try it Today!
Re: This article.
Are there other distros like that?
That is, small-footprint ones that could be put on a USB stick?
Other Small Distros
Linux has been squashed down to 8MB, maybe smaller, but Tiny Linux is the smallest I know.
Damn Small Linux is under 50MB, but
I found Puppy Linux to be more flexible.
DSL didn't seem as friendly as Puppy Linux.
For more choices, Look here:
http://www.linuxlinks.com/Distributions/Mini_Distributions
After discussions with groups of networking people,
product developers, etc - Keychain computing is about to take off.
Remember when you had to boot up from a floppy disk?
Seems silly now right?
Well, in about 5 years, that is how hard drives will be viewed.
Remember when your dad used to boot up a computer using a hard disk? So 1900's
People will be buying 64 GB Pen drives for $69 bucks,
load up their OS/Apps/Data - Hard drives will be used like backup tapes. Sure you'll have a 2 TB Hitachi drive in your computer base,
but your system and working files - the things you need with you,
well, that lives on your keychain.
Use it anywhere, anytime - PCs will be little more than display / audio / keyboards.
People want the privacy and security that Keychain Computing can provide.
If you toss 4096 bit encryption on your backup data drive,
the Keychain not only contains your software, it contains a real key to access your data - your personal information is protected.
Even if someone kicked in your door and took your PC,
without the Keychain USB Flash Drive - there is no operating system,
no applications, and no decoder. The Hard drive and whole computer is a door stop.
Keychain Computing is the future, freedom from lugging around too much equipment. Most people use a Machine at home, and at the desk at work. Traveling computers, notebooks, laptops - they will get a lot lighter, and run with days of battery life - all with no hard drive.
Flash RAM eventually burns out, but QC has extended it's life,
and will continue to extend the life of the subcomponents in USB pen drives. If it can last 3 or 4 years, that is long enough to go buy another one.
Keychain Computing is the greatest shift in technology since
the introduction of the laptop computer.
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