Paul,
Depending on how functional you are with computers, you can set up a computer for $50-$100. It may be worthwhile talking to the IT guys at the hospital for they may either be able to help you or often hospitals have old units they will sell cheaply. Remember you need not only the computer but monitor,keyboard and mouse. Everyone is ditching CRT monitors for flat screens. They are dirt cheap but not worth paying shipping. If you can find a monitor locally it's worth it.
You should not have to lug the computers back and forth. I have AC running perfectly well on a 500 mHz machine in the lab area I picked up for $50. I can remotely log into that computer with Logmein and work from there.
Logmein takes a minimal amount of technical expertise. But from your posts above, you really need at least a permanent computer at home.
