Mobile Computing
Microsoft Windows 2000 has several new features that are designed specifically for mobile users. In addition, several features in Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 and Microsoft Windows 98 have been enhanced, providing even more functionality for mobile users. All of these new features and feature improvements are discussed in this chapter.
Offline Files Offline Files, one of the IntelliMirror technologies, stores information in a cache on a local drive so users can access shared files and folders when they work offline. When they reconnect to the network, Offline Files synchronizes the files stored on the local drive with the files on the network.
Hibernate mode During hibernate mode, a computer's current system state is saved to the hard disk and then the computer is turned off. When a user starts a computer after putting it into hibernate mode, it restarts any programs that were running when the computer entered hibernate mode and restores all network connections
ACPI and APM support Windows 2000 supports the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification, which takes over system configuration and power management from the Plug and Play Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). Windows 2000 also supports the Advanced Power Management (APM) 1.2 specification by taking over the power management from an APM 1.2 BIOS.
Management of power to disks and monitors You can configure Windows 2000 to turn off the power to a monitor or a hard disk even if the portable computer does not have an ACPI-based or an APM-based BIOS.
Standby mode (APM and ACPI only) All ACPI-based and some APM-based computers allow you to put a computer into standby mode. In this state, Windows 2000 puts the monitor, hard disk, and other hardware into a low power state but does not save the computer's current system state as it does in hibernate mode.
Battery management (APM and ACPI only) Windows 2000 Professional provides several new battery management features, including improved battery metering, dual battery support, and the ability to designate different power down options depending on whether your portable computer is powered by battery or alternating current.
Dynamic configuration of PC Cards If your portable computer has an ACPI-based BIOS, you can insert and remove PC Cards and Windows 2000 detects and configures them without your needing to restart the computer.
Hot and warm docking or undocking During Setup, Windows 2000 creates two hardware profiles for portable computers: one for when the portable computer is docked and one for when it is undocked. This, along with dynamic Plug and Play support, allows users to dock and undock from the Windows 2000 Start menu without turning off their computer.
Hot swapping of Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) and floppy disk drives Dynamic Plug and Play support allows you to remove or swap devices such as floppy drives, DVD or CD drives, and hard drives without shutting down or restarting the computer.
Folder redirection Folder redirection allows you to direct the contents of a folder to an alternate location on a server or a network share. When folder redirection is applied to folders such as My Documents, the redirection is transparent to the user.
Table 10.1 displays the new features that are implemented in Windows 2000 and compares them to the features in Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.
Table 10.1 Comparison of Windows 2000 Mobile User Profile Computing Features
Windows 2000 Feature |
Windows 95 |
Windows 98 |
Windows NT 4.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
Offline Files and synchronization |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Briefcase |
X |
X |
X |
Hibernate mode |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Manage power to hard disks and monitors |
-- |
X |
-- |
Standby mode (APM and ACPI only) |
X |
X |
-- |
Battery management (APM and ACPI only) |
-- |
X |
-- |
Dynamic configuration of PC Cards |
-- |
X |
-- |
Hot docking and undocking of portable computers |
-- |
X |
-- |
Hot swapping of IDE and floppy devices |
-- |
-- |
-- |
ACPI support |
-- |
X |
-- |
APM support |
-- |
X |
-- |
Folder redirection |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Roaming user profiles |
-- |
X |
X |