WinXP Pro vs. KVM switch

[cuz202]

I have one pc with XP Home on it and am about to buy a second one
possibly with XP Pro. They will be networked. The plan is to use the
existing pc solely as an audio server for an internet radio station
and to rip/store mp3's from vinyl and cd. The two would be right next
to each other so a kvm switch would allow me to easily switch back and
forth with just one monitor, etc. A more eloquent solution though,
might be to use XP Pro's remote desktop feature on the new machine to
control the existing machine. Several questions:

1. Using remote desktop, would I see the XP Home's desktop, file
folders, etc exactly as I would using a kvm switch set to the Home
machine.

2. Using remote desktop, would I have the same control over all
functions of the Home pc, eg, starting/stopping the shoutcast server,
using Nero, CDex, etc, as the kvm switch would allow. Are there any
lags bringing up the Home machine's screen, and/or reactions to key
strokes and mouse clicks made to it remotely.

3. Are there any instances where the kvm switch would be superior to
remote desktop (aside from audio switching which Belkin's SOHO kvm
switches offer).

Thanks very much,

Tim

[Tom Porterfield]

Basically what you are wanting would work fine but for one small thing, XP
Home doesn't support allowing remote desktop connections in order to
control the machine. So you wouldn't be able to control the Home machine
from the Pro machine.

--
Tom Porterfield
Windows XP / Smart Display MVP
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tp.porterfield/support

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.

"cuz202" > wrote in message
...
> I have one pc with XP Home on it and am about to buy a second one
> possibly with XP Pro. They will be networked. The plan is to use the
> existing pc solely as an audio server for an internet radio station
> and to rip/store mp3's from vinyl and cd. The two would be right next
> to each other so a kvm switch would allow me to easily switch back and
> forth with just one monitor, etc. A more eloquent solution though,
> might be to use XP Pro's remote desktop feature on the new machine to
> control the existing machine. Several questions:
>
> 1. Using remote desktop, would I see the XP Home's desktop, file
> folders, etc exactly as I would using a kvm switch set to the Home
> machine.
>
> 2. Using remote desktop, would I have the same control over all
> functions of the Home pc, eg, starting/stopping the shoutcast server,
> using Nero, CDex, etc, as the kvm switch would allow. Are there any
> lags bringing up the Home machine's screen, and/or reactions to key
> strokes and mouse clicks made to it remotely.
>
> 3. Are there any instances where the kvm switch would be superior to
> remote desktop (aside from audio switching which Belkin's SOHO kvm
> switches offer).
>
> Thanks very much,
>
> Tim

[Bryan Peabody]

You could use Netmeeting instead. It comes with remote desktop sharing.
Just install it on both machines (chances are it already is). It is
pretty easy to use. I did this for a while until I bought a KVM. In my
opinion, a KVM is the best way to go.

Bryan

cuz202 wrote:
> I have one pc with XP Home on it and am about to buy a second one
> possibly with XP Pro. They will be networked. The plan is to use the
> existing pc solely as an audio server for an internet radio station
> and to rip/store mp3's from vinyl and cd. The two would be right next
> to each other so a kvm switch would allow me to easily switch back and
> forth with just one monitor, etc. A more eloquent solution though,
> might be to use XP Pro's remote desktop feature on the new machine to
> control the existing machine. Several questions:
>
> 1. Using remote desktop, would I see the XP Home's desktop, file
> folders, etc exactly as I would using a kvm switch set to the Home
> machine.
>
> 2. Using remote desktop, would I have the same control over all
> functions of the Home pc, eg, starting/stopping the shoutcast server,
> using Nero, CDex, etc, as the kvm switch would allow. Are there any
> lags bringing up the Home machine's screen, and/or reactions to key
> strokes and mouse clicks made to it remotely.
>
> 3. Are there any instances where the kvm switch would be superior to
> remote desktop (aside from audio switching which Belkin's SOHO kvm
> switches offer).
>
> Thanks very much,
>
> Tim