network storage or nas? help please

Hi all,

I have a reasonable spec'd xp pc running 24/7 for my weather station and am wondering if I can also use it for more.

I have a 1TB drive and a 500GB drive full of pictures documents etc that I'd like to be able to access downstairs from my laptop and to save/view photos to easily.

Is there a easy way to either make that xp a server and access the files cheaply, quickly and easily? do I need to make it a NAS drive - if so what are the benefits?

Many thanks for your help
Woody

Why not just use File Sharing? If both Windows, just enable File & Printer Sharing; in XP in Local Area Network Properties and for > XP in Network and Sharing Center. Then you can just access each others files in Windows Explorer as usual.

Thanks XRay. You hear so much hype I didn't know if I was missing a trick.

C heers
Woody