When we think about portable computing, we usually think of laptops. However, this has changed recently. You no longer need to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy the benefits of mobile computing. You can now carry around essential files and software via USB thumb drives. Here’s how you can make the most of your USB thumb drive while you’re on the road:

Use portable applications. Several small open source programs are especially made to fit your USB thumb drive. From a thumb drive version of Microsoft Office, to portable versions of Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird, there are almost no limits to what you can accomplish from a few programs running on your thumb drive. You can find more portable applications at the following websites: Snapfiles and PortableApps.

Save all your work-related files. If you’re using two different computers at work and at home, you can back up all your necessary work-related files on your thumb drive. This is especially helpful if you want to get some work done during your days off. Also, carrying around project proposals and presentations can be convenient during any unexpected opportunities you may have when it comes to presenting them. Once, at a party, I coincidentally met someone whose business I was interested in invested in. It was a good thing that he carried around his business plan on his thumb drive, and he was able to show me his plans on the spot. This can really give you an edge during office parties or casual meetings with supervisors.

Carry around all your personal information. With all the passwords and PIN numbers that people have to remember nowadays, it’s quite a surprise that no one has suffered a brain aneurysm just from ‘password overload’. While it’s not safe to just have one password for all your accounts, it’s equally dangerous to write down all your passwords on a piece of paper. This is where your USB thumb drive comes in. You can use encrypted software such as Pass2Go and KeePass to save all your sensitive information.

Use it as a media player. Some thumb drives also function as a media player. This is a good thing if you’re going to need a little entertainment during long hours of travel. If you really want to maximize productivity during these hours, you can listen to podcasts that are relevant to your business or financial life.