If you're the sort of geek (like me) who finds the idea of carrying around the potential of an entire computer in your pocket pretty exciting, but don't know how to get started, InformationWeek has some answers. They've put together a seven page guide on how to turn that piece of metal and plastic in your pocket into a full-fledged USB-based host machine, lacking only a USB port and a few peripherals to allow you to work. Here's what's covered:

How to use applications without installing anything on the host machine

How to run a standalone operating system from a USB drive.

How to maintain a standalone (and secure) password repository

How to synchronize data between two or more computers

how to encrypt your data so that it's safe to carry it around with you

You can read the full guide here.