Yeah, networking your laptop and PC would allow access between the two... providing both are working and turned on.  The disadvantage to networking between machines is that if one OS/machine stops working, the other can't see it.  I suppose this is the advantage to dual booting... because the second OS is on the same machine, access to its files is always there, even though it isn't actually running.

Having said that, I'm far from being an expert (my preference takes into account the worst case scenario and allows for the easier recovery option) so please don't let me deter you from going the networking route.  Not that I ever need to use it much, but I have networked my primary and secondary machines, just in case.  Besides, having a second machine means you're not keeping all your eggs in the one basket, so networking has its advantages, also.

Aw c'mon, now why should yrag have all the D-head priveleges around here?  Think of it as a term of endearment.

You're most welcome, kit... er, Vampothika.  I'm pleased to have been of assistance to you.

That'll never happen cos people aren't likely to buy them enmasse.... not when many/most will have freeware alternatives.

No, to recoup the costs of development, MS has come up with more expensive 'supersets' of Win 7 basic... so in fact they're not actually giving anything away for "free", are they!  That's business for ya... if they can't sell the individual apps, they'll bundle them with to OS and charge more for it.

Personally, however, I don't see that I'll have a need of those apps exclusive to Ultimate, so I'll probably go with the Win 7 Home Premium Edition to save paying for 'bundled' apps I neither want or need... and for that reason I'm glad there are 5 SKU's, I DO have the choice to buy according to personal need/usage.