Originally Posted by adultguus

You can just install a program like VNC (freeware) on your desktop and laptop and then connect using tcp/ip. You'll see the screen of the desktop appear on your laptop.

There might be simpler methods (using a serial cable and some software may be), but I'm not familiar with that. I use VNC myself all the time. I have it installed on all computers that belong to my family members, so that when one of them has a problem, I don't have to go over there to help them, but can do it from behind my own pc (yes, I'm the one in the family with the computer knowledge, the rest just uses them to surf and print letters ). Works great!