Since I started using Windows MCE (2004) I've often been frustrated when troubleshooting problems with a mouse and keyboard. While I have a USB keyboard and mouse I can use, it would often be helpful if I could bring the display to my monitor, particuarly while I'm working. In addition to MCE, I also use my HTPC to listen to internet radio via Pandora, which can't be controlled with the Media Center remote.

I finally realized that I had the solution already. When I ran a small network I found a piece of help desk software that includes a VNC server which can be used to connect to whatever computers on the network have clients installed. It can also remotely deploy the client and provide an inventory of hardware and software on the target machine.

The software is called SysAid , and it's made by an Isreali company called Ilient (you should have seen the face of the guy in accounts payable when I explained he had to mail a payment to Isreal). There's also a paid version that includes project management and advanced reporting capabilities, although I obviously don't need those features for home use.