[kaykayelle]

I'm new to OS X (got my first Mac ever a week and a half ago) and I was wondering if there is any way to install a program completely onto an external hard drive. You should be able to I guess; the whole dragging the file into the Applications forlder thing is throwing me for a loop on how to do it. Am I out of luck?

[Big Mac]

You don't have to put the application icon (referred to as a package) in /Applications. That's just the default location. It will run from most any location. Some people install all third party applications in their user's Applications folder (~/Applications/). Other people install everything on their external drive(s) - some even go so far as to move /Applications over to an external drive. Only a few applications will not work from alternate install locations.

[kaykayelle]

Oh, good to know. Thanks!