Windows only: HoeKey is a tiny portable application that helps you create user-defined hot key combinations that control a wide variety of Windows functions.
HoeKey uses an astoundingly low amount of system resources—on my system it used a mere 252k of memory. By comparison, the next most intensive non-system process was Notepad, consuming 1,298k of memory. Users can script a variety of macros going well beyond basic application launching. HoeKey has commands for emulating keystrokes, running applications, moving and manipulating windows, adjusting speaker volume and media playback, and a host of other things you might not want to do manually.
The application is completely portable and, because it doesn’t modify the system at all, you could safely use it for custom keyboard shortcuts on a work computer. Use HoeKey with some of the free ways we’ve suggested for syncing your files, and you’ll have the convenience of the same keyboard shortcuts at both your home and office terminals. HoeKey is a free download for Windows systems only.
Windows only: Portable system-fixing bundle Computer Repair Utility Kit puts 57 recovery tools into a single package. That gives you easy access to important system utilities without the fuss of building your own toolkit.
Windows only: If you’re looking for a better way to manage your wish lists than Notepad, but aren’t interested in the more frilly web-based solutions, WishList is a lightweight and portable solution.
CrunchBang, an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that sports a snappy, low-drag interface and is perfect for thumb drives, live CDs, or speed-obsessed Linux fans. Check out how it looks and runs in our screenshot tour.
Conky is one of those Linux tools that gets better every time you open it up and poke around. The basic setup in CrunchBang is pretty functional, giving you a list of the (really helpful) Windows key shortcuts (it’s called the “Super” key in Linux land) and basic system stats. You can, of course, modify a single text file to 
