For anyone out there who wants to remotely access computers (either to access your home computer via your laptop or to help friends and family members with their computer problems), LogMeIn (http://www.logmein.com) is far and away the best program to use.

The free version allows you add an unlimited number of systems that you can remotely access, with several tools, including a laser pointer, whiteboard (this one is especially fun for freaking out my sister by taking over her computer and writing "redrum" across the screen), magnifier, and several other features. This isn't a free trial -- it's just plain free.

I am able to access every system in my parent's house (one wired, one wireless, and one desktop with some sort of weird wireless adapter) without a hitch, and the best part is that you don't even need to install any software on the controller machine -- just go to the website, log in, go to "my computers", pick which computer you want to control, and bam: you're in.

I'm only posting this because I have been searching for over a year for a program like this and I wanted to save you all the trouble.