Any Benefit to Running Internal Portable Apps?

I see how running portable apps from external storage devices could be useful, but I'm wondering if there's any benefit to running a portable app from internal storage (compared to running the installed version of the same app)?

Cruise

 

I run portable apps from a folder "Program Files Portable" on a internal storage drive the Benefit is that when restoring a drive image on the operating system drive the programs are unaffected.
some more benefits are
Improved security, by isolating applications from the operating system.
protect the operating system and other applications from poorly written or buggy code
Allows applications to run in environments that do not suit the native application
enables older Windows XP application to run unmodified on Windows 7

 

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/do-you-use-or-avoid-portable-software-if-so-why.363217/

Another reason would be to use multiple versions of the same app.

 

I have been avoiding portable apps (on my internal drive) because I'm under the impression they often have functional and/or performance limitations when compared to their installed counterpart.

 

One difference is the integration of choices/commands built into Windows right click context menus for the regular installed programs. Most portable apps don't offer this choice. But for many apps, this is the only significant difference. At least that's been my experience...

 

When I run application on-demand only, I prefer to use portable version if possible. I don't like drivers and services being installed if there is no need for them.

 

Not to be argumentative, but it seems to me software developers use drivers/services to provide useful, if not needed, functionality and if a portable version circumvents their use the software in question is compromised.

 

Not necessary. MBAM v.2 will install service and run it even if I don't enable any scan schedule. That's why I prefer to use v. 1.75. The same goes for Secunia PSI - I prefer to use v.2 instead of v.3. I just don't like that some programs install services when there is no real need to run them. So I agree with you - if those services are useful, I don't mind running them. Otherwise, I prefer not to.

 

I have no argument with that (makes good sense)!

 

The reason why I stayed away from portable apps, is because I don't know if those apps are trustworthy?

Aren't they in fact repackaged (by a third party), or am I missing something?

http://portableapps.com/apps

 

Sometimes the developer makes a portable version available. Sometimes it's by a third party.

 

When it comes to minor utilities that I use occasionally, I find portable versions to be easier to work with.

 

You could package your own portable apps with Cameyo Application Virtualization, it is free for personal use and works well with many 64bit & 32bit programs.

http://www.cameyo.com/

 

I have a bunch of portable apps in a separate, non-system partition. They are mainly programs I don't use often and don't want taking up space on my system drive or slowing down backups I make, as well as programs I might want to access when in recovery mode. For example, undelete programs, some anti-malware tools like Emsisoft Emergency Kit, several portable browsers (not my main browser), GIMP Portable (too many subfolders and tiny files to keep on system partition), basic portable utilties, portable Truecrypt and PGP in case I need encrypt/decrypt something when Windows system partition is unavailable, and so forth. Since these programs are portable it also makes them convenient to copy to other computers or to give to other people. However, I prefer regular versions of programs I use frequently.

 

I use portable apps as they are contained and dont install extra services etc.

Also they are useful in a multi boot environment to use for instance portable firfox and have the same setup/prefs and bookmarks.
Yes you could use cloud bookmark syncing but for security i prefer not to if possible

 

Yes do not get me wrong, I also think that they are probably trustworthy, but it still feels a bit weird having to download an app that has been modified by a third party. But it is an awesome idea if you think about it, especially for USB drives.

Thanks I will check it out, seems interesting.