Remote Desktop, a function included with Windows XP Professional, enables you to connect to your computer across the Internet from virtually any computer, Pocket PC, or smart phone. Unlike a typical VPN connection (which will give a remote PC access to the company network) Remote Desktop will actually allow you to see and control your connected PC as though you were sitting directly in front of it.

Remote Desktop is actually the Windows-based Terminal Server, which uses the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to exchange only keystrokes and screen changes.