What's new for using your mobile PC while traveling?
In this articleHow many times have you been worried about sharing a file or a presentation with a colleague while on a business trip? Or, how many times have you wondered whether your mobile PC battery will last until you can plug it in again? If you've ever traveled with your mobile PC, chances are that you've already experienced these moments! If so, here are a few tips that you can use to travel more efficiently with your mobile PC.
Stay connected with Windows Meeting Space
Have you ever had to work with your colleagues on a presentation while you're away from the office?
Then, Windows Meeting Space is the right solution for you. Windows Meeting Space makes it easier for you to share your desktop or any program you have on your computer with other participants, distribute and edit documents on each other's computers, and pass notes. You do need to have access to a network, though. If you don't have a network you can use, don't worry, Windows Meeting Space will set one up for you. This is called an ad hoc network.
Once you've got a network you can use, you can work with up to 10 other people, without the chaos of everyone trying to stand around one computer, talking over each other, and trying to update the presentation just before a meeting.
For more information about using Windows Meeting Space, see Collaborate anywhere using Windows Meeting Space.
Save power
Imagine sitting on a airplane reading an important document or working on a presentation when, with hours left to go in your flight, the battery on your mobile PC dies. Traveling with your mobile PC often means spending long hours away from a power outlet, so you'll need to rely on battery power. Even with recent advancements in battery cell technology and software that makes more efficient use of power, a single charge lasts only several hours on most mobile PCs. It can be a frustrating situation, but there are many ways to make your battery last longer:
| • | Change your power plan. In Windows Vista, you can use a power plan called Power saver, which makes changes to your system that will make your battery power last longer, such as changing the amount of time before your computer goes into a power-saving mode. These changes do lower system performance, so they're best to use when you're doing things like reading e-mail messages and listening to music. To learn more about power plans, see Power plans: frequently asked questions.
|
 |
| Battery meter showing power plans |
| • | Reduce display brightness. The display on your monitor can use more power than anything else on your computer, and turning it down can save battery life. You can change your display brightness in Windows Mobility Center. Open Windows Mobility Center by clicking the Start button  , clicking Control Panel, clicking Mobile PC, and then clicking Windows Mobility Center. |
| • | Turn off or remove unused devices. Many universal serial bus (USB) devices use power just by being connected. If you use a USB mouse, you can save power by disconnecting the mouse and using a touch pad or tablet pen. If you use a USB flash drive, unplug it when you're not using it.
|
Use Windows Mobility Center to manage your settings
When you're on the go, you frequently need to make changes to your mobile PC settings, such as adjust the speaker volume, check the status of your wireless network connection, and adjust the display brightness. Wouldn't it be nice if you could do that all in one place? Windows Mobility Center is a single location where you can adjust mobile PC settings that you regularly change. Windows Mobility Center is especially useful when you're quickly adjusting settings to use your mobile PC in different places—such as traveling from your office to a meeting across town, or going from your home to the airport.
Open Windows Mobility Center by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Mobile PC, and then clicking Windows Mobility Center.
 |
| Windows Mobility Center |
For more information, see Using Windows Mobility Center.
Whether you're taking your computer with you across the globe or just across town, these tips make it easier for you to get things done while on the go. Now you know how to share files, maximize battery power, and adjust your mobile PC settings quickly and effortlessly.
Ad hoc network
__elbasuer__
Ad hoc network
A temporary network used for sharing files or an Internet connection. In an ad hoc network, computers and devices are connected directly to each other instead of to a hub or router. Also called a computer-to-computer network.
Universal serial bus (USB)
__elbasuer__
Universal serial bus (USB)
A narrow, rectangular connector used to attach a device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, to a computer.
Help and How-to
