Sit in the conservatory with your WiFi-equipped PC laptop, and control your desktop Mac in the upstairs office to check your e-mail, chat via your Internet messaging service, write a letter, or surf the web.
As described here:
VNC (Virtual Network Computing) software makes it possible to view and fully-interact with one computer from any other computer or mobile device anywhere on the Internet. VNC software is cross-platform, allowing remote control between different types of computer. For ultimate simplicity, there is even a Java viewer, so that any desktop can be controlled remotely from within a browser without having to install software.
On the Mac
For Mac OS X, download the OSXvnc VNC server software here and place it in your Applications folder.
If you're running Mac OS X's firewall (you should be), go to System Preferences > Sharing > Firewall > New... and select VNC from the pop-up list of Port Names; click OK and make sure your firewall is running.
Launch OSXvnc and configure it (e.g. add a login password), then push the Start Server button.
On the PC
Download VNC viewer (client) software here and install it.
Use the Run VNC Viewer shortcut to open a new connection. Enter the IP address of your Mac followed by the server password you configured above, when prompted.
Your Mac desktop should now appear:
Update 10.12.05: If you're running OS X 10.4 (Tiger) you no longer need to download and install a VNC server as it's built right in. As described here, to access this "hidden" feature turn on Apple Remote Desktop in the Sharing pane of Preferences, and specify a password for VNC viewers in the Access Privileges window. However, this requires that you drop your firewall and for this reason and for superior speed, I still prefer to run OSXvnc as the Mac server (with Chicken of the VNC as the Mac client; RealVNC's VNC Viewer as the PC client).
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