One of the key things that we focused on for Windows Vista was improving the experience for mobile (laptop) users.  If you are like me, you spend quite a bit of time running around with a laptop.  However, when I am in my office, I tend to use my desktop.  The primary way that I share files between my desktop and my laptop is by storing them on a Windows Server (it's also the primary way that I make sure that my files get backed up).  For example, at Microsoft we redirect the "Documents" folder (previously known as "My Documents" in Windows XP) to a share on the server (of course, we use access controls on the folders to make sure that I am the only person who can see my files).

By redirecting key folders like the Documents folder to a file share, my documents are available to me no matter which one of my Windows PCs I am using.  The problem of course is what happens when I don't have access to the server -- such as when I am not on the corporate network or perhaps sitting on an airplane.  Frankly, the same problem exists with any file share that I might try to access when I am not on the corporate network.

Well, as it turns out, we have had a very cool feature in Windows (actually, it's been there since Windows 2000) called "Offline Files."  (We actually used to call it "Offline Folders.")  As the name implies, Offline Files allows you to mark particular folders (and their sub-folders) to be available offline.  When you are on the network, Offline Files automatically synchronizes the folders so that you have a copy of them locally on your hard disk.  Then when you are offline (and don't have access to the actual server), Offline Files makes it look like you are online by simply accessing the locally cached copy.  Later, when you do have access to the file share, Offline Files automatically synchronizes any changes you have made offline with the online version and vice-versa.

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