Preferred Laptop Configuration (XP Laptop / 2003 Domain)

[Lotsa Cabo]

What is the best / preferred way to configure a corporate laptop for
both internal and external usage?

Is it best to configure the laptop with only local computer accounts
and then force the user to attach to shares using their network
username / password when they return? Or, is it best to configure the
laptop with a proper machine account, in the domain, and then logon
using that account? If I add the machine to the domain, then what user
account will the machine use when they are disconnected (a cached
version of the domain user, I hope)?

Sorry for the newbie'ish question. I've always used the former of the
two, but I am looking for opinions.

Thanx,
Ryan

P.S. Sorry for the cross-post. I did not get a suitable response [yet]
on the original post. Time is somewhat critical with this one.

 

[Plato]

What is the best / preferred way to configure a corporate laptop for
both internal and external usage?

The default settings.

 

[Lotsa Cabo]

"The default settings."

Wow. That was helpful.

What "default settings?" Should one create a computer account for the
laptop? Have the user logon with a domain user account? What about
when they are away from the office and disconnected; what account
should they use?

My concerns here are with security and authentication.

-- Ryan