later versions of windows have a feature called offline file caching which allows you to take your network’d documents with you wherever you go. when you return to the network, you are prompted to synchronize your data.
at work, in our winxp/ad environment, we’ve enabled my documents redirection to the users’s home on their server. this is great for users who don’t have laptops. the solution is to make the machine-account a member of a group called mobile users which enables a group policy, enabling offline file caching. probably a couple other settings like allowing the installation of dialup/vpn software, etc.
while doing some testing for sidework at home, i discovered an issue where i’d enable offline caching, logoff/reboot, and it’d be disabled. frustrated, i discovered this.. post about how to fix it.
looks like microsoft’s still got some work to do…