Microsoft designed Windows XP so that only one user at a time could access a given PC, either via the local desktop or a remote Terminal Services client. But the OS and today's hardware can easily accommodate more concurrent users, especially for typical office chores. Enter WinConnect Server XP, a program that lets three remote users log onto a Windows XP system while someone is using the host machine locally.
ThinSoft recommends at least a 1-GHz CPU and 256MB of RAM to support one remote user and one local user. Each additional remote user calls for an extra 100 MHz of CPU speed and 64MB of memory. So, for example, a 2.4-GHz, 512MB system can support at least four concur- rent users.
WinConnect exploits Windows XP's built-in Terminal Services based on Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 5.1. All...