Next I think I will add a mini linux operating system so I have better control. Truecrypt runs nicely under linux by the way. I will have to do something about the portable applications (see
http://portableapps.com/ for details about portable applications).
Nomad
You can install Ubuntu on a usb in persistent mode (meaning you can save settings and install apps and it'll be there when you reboot off the usb next time).
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/usb-ubuntu-804-persistent-install-tutorial/That way, you don't even need portable apps... you boot off into your own computer and your good to go.
Personally, I have two usb keys with this setup; a personal computer version with all the usual coding IDE's and stuff and another which is a LAMP server. That way, I can covert any pc to a server on the fly with a simple reboot.