Laptop as Viewing my Desktop?

[WazMeister]

Hey

I have a LAPTOP, basicly I want to be able to use my current WS monitor for other stuff, but some how have my desktop PC using the laptop screen just the screen basicly.

How is this does easily/cheaply?

[VR46]

Unless the laptop has a VGA input (which 99.9% don't) you can't.

[WazMeister]

it has a vga port, not sure if its input how can i tell

[Roddie]

If it only has one VGA port, it'll be an output.

[bootmonster]

You can use one of those USB video capture doodahs, assuming you can find one with vga input. It would, however, require the laptop to be in use....

[EJG1980]

If your want your current widescreen monitor for other stuff, the cheapest option would just be to buy a cheapy extra monitor for your desktop. You can get 19 inch LCDs for under £100 now.

[bootmonster]

I just had a thought, you could set up a VNC client, there are lots of good guides on how to do it.

One such here

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/VNCGuide.html

[EJG1980]

Hey, good idea, I actually use one of those (logmein.com) to control my office desktop from my laptop and it works really well. Even used it from America to control my desktop back in England, worked a treat. The basic version at logmein is free as well (and I've never needed anything more than that).

[Roddie]

Depends what you want to do, you can't really watch videos over VNC (in my experience with it) so I imagine playing games would also be out the window.

[r3z]

I use remote desktop too.. only connecting locally from Vista to XP Pro so just use the function in Windows. Although you can't really watch video through it (it's like watching a slideshow), you can always just put it on a share and playback on the laptop itself. No interest in them myself but that probably wouldn't work for games I guess.

[WazMeister]

wanted it so my wife can play Sims 2 while Im on my monitor watching stuff.

[VR46]

logmein etc won't work in that case, buy her a monitor for Xmas. Job done who said romance is dead ?