Simple but CHEAP SOHO Network (WinXP Pro)? Kinda Long...

I sure hope that this is the correct forum for this question.

I currently have a machine running WinXP Pro in a SOHO environment.
I would like to be able to access this machine from another room in the house.
At first I considered buying a low-end laptop and using a wireless network.
This would be my ultimate choice because of the portability and the fact that I
could actually lie in bed and surf, connect to my work server, etc.
The idea was that the laptop would need minimal requirements as I would use
something like PCAnywhere and let the desktop upstairs do all the processing.
Unfortunately I am on a VERY tight budget and have been unsuccessful in getting
a laptop on eBay for several weeks now. My only prerequisite was that it have a
fairly large display and be capable of at least 1024x768 resolution (for working
on large spreadsheet and the like). As luck would have it, it seems that
laptops with screens larger than 13.1" are also more powerful than
I can afford PLUS I have to dish out for the hardware to do the wireless connection.

I have now all but given up the idea of a laptop and I'm willing to sacrifice
portability for low cost. I was thinking of using some kind of dumb terminal
and making a wired connection. I already have a spare 17" Trinitron monitor.

The problem is this: Although I have over 20 years of computer experience, I
know NOTHING about networking. Some have told me that WinXP will not act as a
server for a dumb terminal. I DO NOT want to change the operating system on my
desktop.

I'm looking for an innovative and VERY cheap solution and I'm open to all
suggestions except using a series of mirrors and a long keyboard cable.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Tom Geer

To reply via email, remove "NOSPAM" from my email addy.

The following is from WinXP Pro help.

Remote Desktop overview
With Remote Desktop on Windows XP Professional, you can have access to a
Windows session that is running on your computer when you are at another
computer. This means, for example, that you can connect to your work
computer from home and have access to all of your applications, files, and
network resources as though you were in front of your computer at work. You
can leave programs running at work and when you get home, you can see your
desktop at work displayed on your home computer, with the same programs
running.

When you connect to your computer at work, Remote Desktop automatically
locks that computer so no one else can access your applications and files
while you are gone. When you come back to your computer at work, you can
unlock it by typing CTRL+ALT+DEL.

Remote Desktop also allows more than one user to have active sessions on a
single computer. This means that multiple users can leave their applications
running and preserve the state of their Windows session even while others
are logged on.

With Fast User Switching, you can easily switch from one user to another on
the same computer. For example, suppose you are working at home and have
logged on to the computer at your office to update an expense report. While
you are working, a family member needs to use your home computer to check
for an important email message. You can disconnect Remote Desktop, allow the
other user to log on and check mail, and then reconnect to the computer at
your office, where you see the expense report exactly as you left it. Fast
User Switching works on standalone computers and computers that are members
of workgroups.

Remote Desktop enables a variety of scenarios, including:

a.. Working at home - Access work in progress on your office computer from
home, including full access to all local and remote devices.
b.. Collaborating - Bring your desktop to a colleague's office to debug
some code, update a Microsoft PowerPoint slide presentation, or proofread a
document.
c.. Sharing a console - Allow multiple users to maintain separate program
and configuration sessions on a single computer, such as at a teller station
or a sales desk.
To use Remote Desktop, you need the following:

a.. A computer running Windows XP Professional ("remote" computer) with a
connection to a Local Area Network or the Internet.
b.. A second computer ("home" computer) with access to the Local Area
Network via network connection, modem, or Virtual Private Network (VPN)
connection. This computer must have Remote Desktop Connection, formerly
called the Terminal Services client, installed.
c.. Appropriate user accounts and permissions.


"Tom Geer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
newsaydnbVCrvWFBPyiU-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I sure hope that this is the correct forum for this question.
>
> I currently have a machine running WinXP Pro in a SOHO environment.
> I would like to be able to access this machine from another room in the
house.
> At first I considered buying a low-end laptop and using a wireless
network.
> This would be my ultimate choice because of the portability and the fact
that I
> could actually lie in bed and surf, connect to my work server, etc.
> The idea was that the laptop would need minimal requirements as I would
use
> something like PCAnywhere and let the desktop upstairs do all the
processing.
> Unfortunately I am on a VERY tight budget and have been unsuccessful in
getting
> a laptop on eBay for several weeks now. My only prerequisite was that it
have a
> fairly large display and be capable of at least 1024x768 resolution (for
working
> on large spreadsheet and the like). As luck would have it, it seems that
> laptops with screens larger than 13.1" are also more powerful than
> I can afford PLUS I have to dish out for the hardware to do the wireless
connection.
>
> I have now all but given up the idea of a laptop and I'm willing to
sacrifice
> portability for low cost. I was thinking of using some kind of dumb
terminal
> and making a wired connection. I already have a spare 17" Trinitron
monitor.
>
> The problem is this: Although I have over 20 years of computer
experience, I
> know NOTHING about networking. Some have told me that WinXP will not act
as a
> server for a dumb terminal. I DO NOT want to change the operating system
on my
> desktop.
>
> I'm looking for an innovative and VERY cheap solution and I'm open to all
> suggestions except using a series of mirrors and a long keyboard cable.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Tom Geer
>
> To reply via email, remove "NOSPAM" from my email addy.
>
>