Windows 7 - Need advice for intra LAN remote desktop administration

So I have 3 computer on my home LAN (Laptop-Vista Home premium, desktop-XP pro, HTPC-Win 7 Home premium) connecting to the internet through a Linksys router that has a firewall. I want to be able to use my laptop to run applications on the other computers (like installing programs, starting virus scans, cleaning up stuff) so that I don't have to go to each one and log in then do what I need to do and log out. It would also help keep programs simillar between computers.

I was toying with using remote desktop, but I realized that I don't have an OS that will act as a server for this. I read someone that said Teamviewer could be used but wanted to see if anyone else had advice on the topic. I'm not super network savey so the simpler the better. Free would be better, but if it makes my life a lot easier then I would pay for a program.

I do not need to get to my computers from outside my home LAN, but if I could that would be a plus, but not really something that I am looking for.

I'm looking for 1 computer to rule them all.

Thanks
Steve

Steve Hi

Team Viewer is, easy to use, comprehensive, and free. In short it just works, across town or across the globe.