Getting the Most Out of Your Commute
Leaving your work at the office is a thing of the past. These days, your office or classroom goes where you go. And so do your friends and business contacts. The old spiral notepad has given way to mobile PCs (notebooks, Tablet PCs, and ultra-mobile PCs) and mobile devices that can do just about everything but brew coffee.
With Windows Vista, you can continue to work or play as you move from place to place. Instead of staring out of the bus window or watching people at the airport, now you can get something done during your commute. Catch up on your e-mail, design a floor plan for your new kitchen, conduct an online meeting, or sharpen your wits with a game of chess.
Your commute could be cross-country, across town, or across campus. No matter how you prefer to spend that commute, Windows Vista can help you get the most out of your commute by getting you connected, helping you work and play, and helping you get the most battery life from your mobile PC. So take care of business, have fun, and keep up to date in the air, on the bus, or at the coffee shop.
Get connected
The next time you're at your favorite coffee shop, try connecting to a wireless network to fire off an e-mail or update your blog. Here's how to locate and connect to a wireless network:
Click the Start button 
, click Connect To, click the network you want to connect to, and then click Connect.
For some networks, you might need to obtain a passphrase (a network password) from the network administrator. After you connect, you can open your browser or e-mail program and start working. For more information, see View and connect to available wireless networks in Windows Help and How-to.
Share your work
Let's say you're between classes at school and need to share some study notes. After you connect to a wireless network, you can chat in real time with your classmates, send them your notes in e-mail, or even share your audio recording of the day's lecture in Microsoft Office OneNote. Here's how to start a shared session in OneNote:
On the Share menu, point to Live Sharing Session, and then click Start Sharing Current Section.
In the Start Live Session task pane, set options and start the session.
If you're traveling with coworkers, you may need to share information with them or work together on a presentation. With Windows Meeting Space, you can work with up to 10 other people over the Internet, a local network, or a temporary computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network. If no network exists, Windows Meeting Space sets one up automatically. You can share your desktop or any program with other session participants, distribute and edit documents on each other's computers, and pass notes to other participants. Here's how to open Windows Meeting Space:
For more information, see What is Windows Meeting Space in Windows Help and How-to.
Play games
Okay, enough about work. Commuting can be about entertainment, too. Whether you're stuck at the airport, sitting on a long bus ride, or you just need a rest between classes, everyone can use a break now and then. For years, Windows users have relied on the old computer-game standards, such as Solitaire and Minesweeper.
Now you can play updated versions of these games, with colorful new graphics. You'll also discover some challenging new games to occupy your mind. Beginners and experts can face off against Chess Titans, an animated three-dimensional chess game with sound. And Mahjong Titans offers multiple layouts and skill levels to pass the time quickly. Windows Vista also includes InkBall, a game designed to be played with a tablet pen, to test the skills of Tablet PC users. Check the Games folder to see which games are included with your edition of Windows Vista. Here's how to start playing a game:
The Games folder
Maximize battery life
Depending on how long you're commuting, and what activities you perform during your commute, you may want to adjust your computer's power plan so that your battery's charge lasts longer. Listening to music, for example, requires minimal power from your computer and doesn't use much of your battery's charge. Playing video games, however, requires maximum power and processor speed, so your battery charge expires sooner.
With Windows Vista, you can choose from three default power plans:
The Power saver plan conserves energy while you're on the go.
The High performance plan maximizes performance when you're plugged in.
The Balanced plan achieves a balance between energy consumption and system performance.
Below are a few tips for choosing which power plan is right for you and your commute:
If your commute is short or your battery is fully charged, choose the Balanced plan, which gives you the best of both worlds: high performance when you need it and low energy consumption when your computer is idle.
If your commute is long or your battery isn't fully charged, choose the Power saver plan to get the most out of your battery's charge.
If you can plug in to a power source during your commute, choose the High performance plan to boost your computer's processing power.
Experiment with different options to see which plan works for you. Here's how to change your power plan:
Selecting a new power plan on the battery meter, which is located in the notification area of the taskbar
Go to sleep
Sometimes, when your commute is long, you may need to take a nap. While you sleep, your mobile PC is likely to sleep, too. Before you close your eyes, simply close your mobile PC's lid, which, by default in Windows Vista, puts your computer to sleep. Sleep saves your work to memory and puts your mobile PC into a power-saving state, so it's typically better than turning off your computer when you're not using it.
Enjoy a productive commute
These days, there's no need to feel like you're cut off from work, study, or play. Whether you're commuting to your job or school, working between meetings or classes, or traveling around the world, Windows Vista helps keep you productive and entertained while you're on the go.
