I am an anthropologist. I am going to the field and will use a netbook to collect survey data. The survey forms will need to allow me to enter data into multiple tables, search tables, allow subforms, and be fast enough to not slow down my interview. I have considered storing the data in a SQL Server Express 2008 R2 server (there will be a lot of data) while using a Microsoft Access data project as a front end. To cut down the number of steps required to collect and store data, I'm considering using the netbook for both data storage and collection (after reading this article about SQL Server on a netbook). My questions are:

(1) Is there a simpler solution that is also gratis (gratis because I already have a MS Access license from my workplace, and SQL Server Express is, obviously, free)?

(2) Does my idea to store and collect data using the netbook make sense?

Thank you.