[robomartin]

PortableApps looks interesting. That said, I can't see using it with applications such as SolidWorks, CAMWorks, Xilinx FPGA tools, Altera FPGA tools, MicroSIM, various compilers, various FEA tools, Altium Designer, etc. In other words, I am talking about some major engineering applications that would probably do very poorly (if they even work) with such an environment.

As a business you would be risking all kinds of possible nightmare scenarios with compatibility, maintainability and general support issues.

The real solution has to be OS-based. Which is unlikely to happen.