Transform laptop into dumb monitor

It's not clear what you want to do...
- if you want to use your laptop as dumb monitor / keyboard for a another computer - no, you can't
- if that other computer system has any means of remote desktop functionality - yes, you can, just connect to the same network
- to "tap into other hard drives" - get external SATA-to-USB box (or IDE-to-USB, SCSI-to-USB) and connect these drives directly to your laptop

You could, with something like this:

http://www.belkin.com/kvm/sms/omniview-kvmip.aspx

KVM/IP plus WAP equals easy.

"- if you want to use your laptop as dumb monitor / keyboard for a another computer - no, you can't "

Yes this is what I am trying to do. 40 different desktops that I maintain. And usually I have to go on board because remote access is difficult when housed under sea port slips.

I am trying to find a way to have a portable key board and monitor that is not cumbersome to transport. We have several laptops that are "obsolete" and was wondering if you convert these obsolete models into dumb terminals to interface with the headless units.

Completely disregard this, go with the one below it.

Even better:

http://www.amazon.com/Console-Portable-Laptop-Crash-Ada...

This gives you EXACTLY what you're after, and being FAR more affordable.

In fact, I might get one of these myself.