Unleash the power of your mobile PC

The best thing about your mobile PC is that you can use it practically anywhere. When you connect your mobile PC to a wireless network, you have the freedom to work, surf the web, and send e-mail from anywhere in the world or just from your living-room couch. Here's how:

• Connect to the Internet from anywhere in your house. The best way to connect to the Internet from anywhere in your house is to set up a wireless network. If you don't already have a wireless network in your house, don't worry, it's easy to create one. For more information, see Setting up a wireless network.

• Connect to the Internet from a hotspot. Many coffee shops, hotels, airports, and even public parks are Internet hotspots. If you take your mobile PC to one of these hotspots, you can use their Internet connection to surf the web or check e-mail. For more information about how connect to a wireless network, see View and connect to available wireless networks. Some hotspots are free, while others require a one-time fee or a monthly subscription. Many hotspots provide specific instructions on how to connect, so if you're having trouble, look for posted instructions or ask someone who works there.

  You might also be able to use a PC Card from your mobile phone service provider to connect your mobile PC to the Internet anywhere in your mobile phone coverage area. Contact your mobile phone service provider for more information about this service.

One of the most common challenges with mobile PC is to run out of battery power before you're finished using your computer. The Battery Status tile in Windows Mobility Center shows you how much charge is left in your battery and is a quick way to change power plans so that your battery lasts longer.

There are many ways you can make your battery last longer between charges—for example, using power plans, dimming the screen, and unplugging computer peripherals that you're not using helps conserve battery power a lot. Here's how:

• Power plans. Windows includes three power plans—Power saver, High performance, and Balanced—to conserve battery power, make your computer perform better, or strike a balance between the two. Unless you change the power plan, your mobile PC uses the Balanced power plan to automatically balance system performance and battery life. If you want to make your battery last even longer, choose the Power saver plan in Mobility Center, which reduces the performance of your mobile PC to save power and make your battery last longer.

• Screen brightness. The brighter your screen, the more battery power your computer uses. Power plans will automatically adjust the screen brighness, but to maximize battery life, you can use Mobility Center to make the screen as dim as it is comfortable for your eyes.

• Unused peripherals. An external mouse, music player, or other universal serial bus (USB) device uses your mobile PC's power when it's plugged in to your computer. Unplug these devices if you're not using them, and try using your mobile PC's built-in pointing devices, such as a touch pad or pen to conserve battery power.

Tip

If you want to customize the way your mobile PC works on battery power, you can create and customize your own power plans. For more information, see Change, create, or delete a power plan (scheme).

You need to be extra careful of your mobile PC because you take it along with you everywhere you go. Protect the information on your computer by using a strong password and frequently backing up your mobile PC. To protect your computer from getting lost or stolen, don't let it out of your sight when you're taking it out of your home or office. Use a cable lock whenever you need to step away from your mobile PC (even at the office). You can get a cable lock at any store that sells mobile PCs. For more information and tips about keeping your computer safe, see Protecting your mobile PC when on the go.