The great thing about USB flash drives are its ability to run programs from it. Portable applications, as they are known, allow you to take a web browser with all your bookmarks or a graphics viewer along with you without having to fear that the next computer you go won’t have them installed.

Google wants to get you going with its own three programs. Picasa, the image cataloger, Google Toolbar and Google Desktop Search applications will all come preloaded on a Lexar USB flash drive and will only require the user to open the folders and start using it right off the card. While the more advanced user can do this and choose their vendor to their tastes, this does allow the more “common man” a luxury that should help Lexar sale a few more thumb drives.

Tags: usb, google toolbar, drive, picasa, google desktop search, lexar, thumb