Downsides To Going Portable Over Installed, Esp. With Browsers Or Email Like Thunderbird?

I'm going to set up a new system soon. The only downside I'm aware of concerning portable programs is that you have to make the Start Menu shortcuts yourself. But I don't have long experience with choosing portable versions of programs that install, so I want to know if there are any other downsides.

 

You can make you own "start menu" using Pstart (link) or Portable Start Menu (link) or Symenu (link). You could also just shortcut to desktop. I keep all my portable exes in a folder in called exez, then when I swap computers I just have to move that folder. True portable apps store everything in their local folder, so no registry keys, profile or data folders to copy.
I just right click my taskbar, select toolbar > new toolbar and browse to the portables folder (exez in my case) and it makes a nifty "start menu" for you.

 

Consider installing the PortableApps.com Platform.
https://portableapps.com/download
It's the ultimate Start Menu for managing the portable programs on your PC or a USB drive.