Windows Vista: The Complete Reference (Complete Reference Series)

Overview

Many people use laptops-it's convenient to be able to pick up your computer, with all its data and software, and take it anywhere . But laptops have disadvantages, too, and Windows Vista addresses many of them. This chapter is full of suggestions about how to make the most of your laptop, including these:

• You can use the Windows Mobility Center to help you quickly configure your laptop when you work in different locations.

• You can coordinate files with those on a desktop or network by using offline files and the Sync Center.

• You can print a document, even when you aren't attached to a printer, by deferring printing until a printer is available.

• You can use Remote Desktop Connection to access your computer remotely through a LAN or the Internet.

• You can use power management to make your battery last longer.

• If you use a docking station to connect your laptop to desktop devices, you should know about docking and undocking and hardware profiles.

You also may want to explore connecting to a network or another computer to use its resources when you don't have a network card by using a dial-up connection-this topic covered in Chapter 29.