International Backpacking: Storing a Complete Computer on a USB Drive

Backpacking across a country, or several countries, is a truly enlightening experience. One of the things many backpackers will learn is to leave the laptop behind. It is an expensive burden that you will get tired of lugging around. You will need to constantly change adapters, based on the country you are currently in, and it makes you a target for mugging. The device can break at any time, and is a liability with your information.

A better alternative would be to utilize Internet cafes - they can be found just about everywhere: inside hostel and hotel lobbies, on street corners, in libraries, etc. The only problem with them, however, is the lack of software you may want, including something you may consider basic, like AIM or video editing software.

What is the happy medium in this case - the perfect cross between having your own laptop with your, and yet having the safety and lack-of-burden of an Internet cafe? A USB flash drive, loaded with your own operating system.

USB flash drives are very small, and can be purchased up to 32GB. This is very inexpensive when compared to a laptop. You can install an operating system on this device and configure it to launch from within a computer environment. It will run over top of the computer, and will have all your own programs and settings saved.

So, for example, you can install IM software, photo editing, movie editing, blogging software, etc, and have it all there to use, irregardless of whether or not the host computer has it. Anything you do on this 'computer' in your USB will be saved there, with no trace of it left on the Internet cafe computer. This is also great for safety purposes - there's no chance of your info getting cached on the Internet cafe's computer.

Finally, it is far less likely that your 'computer' will get stolen. Thumb drives are the size of a pack of gum, and can be slipped into a pocket or clipped to a belt. Few people are likely to even notice it, yet alone thing about grabbing it.

So, if you want to leave the laptop at home and create your own personal computer on a memory stick (flash drive, whatever), follow the next steps to get started.

Items Needed: