Portable storage devices today can be as small as a quarter and still carry gigabytes of data. Devices like flash drives are extremely convenient and a critical asset in both our personal and professional lives. Programmers have taken advantage of the popularity of removable media and created software that can operate independently of the operating system’s registry. PortableApps are applications that can be used without having to install them on each computer you use.
They don’t leave traces or make any changes to the computer they’re plugged into. All settings and changes are saved to the portable drive. PortableApps will work on Windows XP or later and there are equivalent programs for Linux such as www.portools.com. Most of the sites’ programs are open source and all can be downloaded at no cost. There are also no restrictions on the type of portable drive needed. The applications can be installed to memory cards, flash drives, hard drives, and even to media players.
Google Chrome Portable
The list of programs available includes Firefox, Google Chrome, OpenOffice, and even a few games such as Sudoku and Warzone 2100. ClamWin and SpyDLLRemover can be download to remove viruses and spyware. There’s also a menu that can be set to launch when you plug in your drive to help you access your applications.
The benefits are extremely useful when on a library or public computer where changes to the computer system is either frowned upon or not allowed. It is also helpful that browser bookmarks, history, and add-ons are stored on and loaded from the removable drive.
The IT field is extremely competitive with many trying to do anything to improve their chances for getting a position. Especially if you are just starting out, certifications such as CompTIA’s A+ and Network+ can go a long way towards getting your first job. There are others you should consider such as the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MSDST), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), and more depending on your specific career path. Even though it would be nice to have as many certifications as possible on your resume, the cost per certification most of the time is in the range of 100-300 dollars.
In order to pass the exam, a lot of your time would be spent learning the necessary material. Reading a book corresponding with the certification would be the bulk of your studying. As the exam questions are periodically updated, it would be preferable to buy the most recently released book and research your required material online. It can also help to purchase practice exams to help you test your ability to pass. As these tests usually cost less than half the expense of the exams, it can be cost efficient to buy them rather than risk failing and paying the exam fee twice.
CCNA Logo
If you pass the exam, then you have the benefit of adding the certification to your resume and have improved your chances of landing a job in the IT field, as well as a certificate you can proudly display on your wall. If by chance you failed the exam, don’t give up just yet. There’s no mandatory wait time in between the first and second exam attempt, so you can restudy and try again. Also the exams are pass or fail, so it only matters that you meet or exceed the minimum score. Prometric and Pearson VUE are two businesses that you can sign up for online, locate a nearby testing center, and schedule the exams.
The video below is a short guide on setting up printers in Ubuntu 9.10. The guide also explains how to check if a printer is compatible with Ubuntu, and how to print from other computers on the network.
