Netbooks and ultra-portable laptops may be convenient, but they don't always have the horsepower to get done what you need. Mobile-obsessed blogger James Kendrick suggests using LogMeIn (or maybe a free equivalent) to do the battery-draining stuff remotely.
Kendrick suggests that video editing, file encoding, and other tasks that might take your portable computer far too long are best done with a remote LogMeIn/VNC connection. Likewise, tasks like system updates, malware scans, and other maintenance that will take a long time when you're sitting down can be triggered remotely and set to shut down when done.
Kendrick lists four other clever uses of LogMeIn that he relies on regularly. We're wondering if you use remote desktop access regularly, and for what kinds of functions. Drop your discussion in the comments, if you please.