To control the system takes a PCI card with 4 inputs. I'm not sure what is available for laptops, but I haven't seen anything in my searches.

Also, the system will need at least a P-III and 128 megs of RAM, and 512 would be better. Then the HD should be at least 60 gigs, and the display would need to be completely shut off. I'm afraid that a laptop would be pretty expensive if it could be made to work.

I'm guessing the $147 power supply will be it.

You know about LANs. I think you said you had one. Could a person have a keyboard, mouse and monitor remote from the computer? I know squat about wi-fi, doubt if that would work, but it would be nice.

We want to have the computer in an remote location, with the cameras wireless, so that if someone got very diligent they still couldn't find the system. They could "take out" the cameras, but only after they saw them and were seen themselves.

It would be nice to be able to control the system wirelessly, too. Probably too good an idea to be possible.