Tive recently posted about problems with installing software on his pc (The day Windows installer died), it struck a chord because I try to keep my digital footprint to a minimum. If possible, software I use is free, super lite (leaves no trace) or in browser.

Not possible? Prepare to be amazed … this is the Tao of Doc.

1. Don’t pay for broadband - Surf at work, in libraries, internet cafes or with helpful friends and neighbours.

2. Use Firefox Portable (see point 3) as you browser - Add some plugins … ColorfulTabs, CustomizeGoogle, Adblock Plus. Create tabs for sites you visit every day … select preferences click on ‘use current pages’ so Ff will start those up when you activate it.

3. Get a memory stick, 1GB is fine, hit portableapps.com … grab a few essentials, they live on the stick and have little impact on any computers you use (plus take them wherever). My basic choice … Firefox, Notepad, Gimp, VLC, OpenOffice, SumatraPDF, Yamipod.

Also, take a look at … USB AutoRunner (pc only)
4. Browser based apps (Google Docs aside) -

voo2do, Ajax13, Zoho Show, Vyew, editgrid, goowy, thumbstacks, 30boxes, drawlabs,

5. Itunes - jukeboxtube, songza, last.fm.

6. Misc - desktoptwo, meebo, mediafire.

7. Investigate Adobe Air.

Tags: Adobe Air, doc rogers, Firefox, www.portableapps.com