Microsoft shows off USB stick capable of bringing Windows 8 to older machines

Call it “Windows 8 on a stick.” During Microsoft’s Digital Worldwide Partner Conference on Monday, Microsoft showed off a USB stick that doesn’t just help users bring their personal data to different PCs but actually runs Windows 8 on that PC even if it runs on Windows 7. The portable version of Windows 8, dubbed Windows To Go, saves users’ apps and settings on a 32GB USB drive so users can make any computer seem like their home computer. Microsoft pitched the USB stick as a simple way for corporate users to easily access their work data on multiple PCs while still enjoying access to Windows 8.