Group Policy for Laptops

I would create a batch file that runs a registry entry that removes the proxy when the user is offsite. Group policy will take priority in the office and override any other settings. :o)

Create the following batch file:
@echo off
regedit /s c:\proxy.reg
exit

Or if you want to be clever and do this automatically then put a read only text file in a shared drive on the server and put some random text in it. Call it for example h:\proxycheck.txt
and make your batch file read:
@echo off
if exist h:\proxycheck.txt goto office else goto away
:away
regedit /s c:\proxy.reg
exit
:office
echo proxy ok
exit

Then, on a normal machine (without the group policy in effect) run regedit and go to the following key:
HKCU/software/microsoft/windows/current version/internet settings
highlight that hive and export it (only the selected branch) to c:\proxy.reg
Close regedit and open that file in notepad.
Leave the first two lines:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
and delete everything else except:
"ProxyEnable"=dword:00000000
Make sure it says 00000000

That turns off the proxy. Save the file and exit. Copy that file to the c: drive of the laptop in question.
Copy the batch file above to the c: drive and create a scheduled task to run the batch file every 5 minutes.

If you dont want it automated then put a shortcut to the batch file on the desktop and tell the user to run it when they log on out of the office.

Thank you!

Please, explain if there's a way to make the specific group policy be in effect only when user logs on to a domain? When I've disconected my laptop and ran gpupdate /force I thought the policy will be reset to a local policy settings. It didn't work though. I'm a bit confused because I was thinking that domain policies are in effect only when user logs into domain

Group Policy basically sets registry keys to policy values. When users log on off the domain - but with a domain account the policy will still be applied.

Also Group Policy overides Local Policy so the Aico's soluton will not resolve the problem. You may find that the solution to you problem is to have different logins  though this may be messy. Alternatively have the proxy setting set by DHCP and stop all other web traffic going out directly over the default gateway.

take a look at http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/2000/Q_21124850.html

There isn't a way to have policy applied based on where you log in from. I've seen quite a few solutions where the proxyenable option is turned off though this requires either a scheduled task or manual intervention.

I've found that if you secure your network so that users have to use the proxy then there's no danger in setting the proxy through DHCP.

Have you tried using the Automatically Detect Settings in IE? I was had the same scenario as you until I switched and now when in the office it will detect my proxy server, and out of the office it won't detect it and use a direct connection.