You can't install programs, at least not in an easy way, with a LiveCD. Just think, where will a new program be installed? You've to install it on the hard-drive to not get those "problems" as you mentioned. Go to:
http://www.linuxiso.org/
make a search after LiveCD. There're a bunch of those around... but if you want to be able to install programs, create accounts and have better performance, you've to make an hd-install. Actually, the best is to get a full, good distro and install it to the hd. Live distros are good as a repair disk and to show your friend that Linux really works. Or to test a computer before buying one... other than that, pick up an ordinary distribution