if you are using windows 98 - then you will need to upgrade to 128 bit encryption.
Windows xp/2000 is ok out of the box.
Idea is.
Connect to the internet on the laptop.
Using dial up networking, create a secure connection to the vpn server ( sme ).
Now any traffic for your localnetwork, will be encrypted and then tunnelled via the vpn link to the sme server. There it will then appear as if connected locally.