Laptop on a network

[wintomato]

Hi all
some advice is needed. A friend has a small network, ther server runs exchange 5.5 and the 5 user pcs use this to share address books and send emails. Rather than get another pc, they want to add a sony vaio small laptop to the network. I thought this would not be a problem, just make sure it has a network card and it can logon as a normal pc. But if they want to take it away and use the address book and email people what do they do, as they won't be on the network.
They mentioned a docking station but i don't think that is much different than a network card.
I thought about outlook web access but that may mean getting some expensive software, and some heavy duty configuration.
So has anyone got any recommendations... how can we have a laptop be part of the network, on the network but useable away from the network?
any advice appreciated.

[mikeheitz]

What version of Outlook is on the Laptop? In Outlook (newer versions I believe) you can sync all your contact lists and email for offline access. I haven't used it much myslef, but if you search on MS Technet for Offline Folders you should find a slew of information.

[wintomato]

Outlook 2000 (9.0.0.2711)
will this do the job... i'll check the site.

[wintomato]

Is there anyway of actually being able to send and receive emails whilst the laptop is not connected the the network, but to an internet dial up?
Offline folders can do the job, but they are offline. I've thought about outlook web access, but seems fairly hectic to set up on 5.5, and there isn't much info support on the internet for it
thanks

[Tuf]

They can either send email from a dial up account or if they want to use their network they will have to have a way for the notebook to dial the server directly.

I have never set one up but I have several friends that use their notebooks that way. While they are at the office they are simply on the network. When they are away from the office they dial up the server directly.