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Install a software-only keyboard/monitor switcher
Authored by: ms_t_rie on Feb 01, '05 11:10:22AM

Another option if the PC has Windows XP or higher (or 2000 server) is to use Remote Desktop to connect to the PC and run things. I've been doing that for a while now and it works extremely well. It's not hard to setup on the Windows side, the Remote Desktop Client is free and in my experience MUCH faster than VNC.



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MS RDC is way faster than VNC
Authored by: lullabud on Feb 01, '05 02:14:41PM

I agree completely. I was down in Santa Cruz for the weekend and needed to connect to my home PC to start up a torrent, and my Mac to check my mail and IMs that I'd left running. I used a friends Powerbook to connect with Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) to my XP machine and it was very fast and responsive. However, connecting to my Mac with VNC was incredibly slow, and I mean *incredibly* slow. I'm not sure if it's just that VNC bandwidth doesn't scale well, or maybe it's something else, but in my experience RDC works waaaay better than VNC. It's just a shame that the RDC server doesn't run in OS X. ;-)



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MS RDC is way faster than VNC (sort of)
Authored by: wsdr on Feb 02, '05 10:28:09AM
RDC may be faster, but you can't use it to control the screen of the remote computer. Instead, it works like terminal server. Plus, when you log in as a user on the remote machine, that user, if currently logged in, gets logged out (and sees a black screen). VNC, on the other hand, lets you see and control the remote user's screen at the same time they see it.

So, for remote use, RDC is best. But for remote control/support, it is not helpful. Each has its own place, and is each is better suited to a particular task.

Having said all that, on my PC, which is on the same desk as my Mac, I use RealVNC and osx2x on my Mac. That way my PC display, which sits to the left of my Mac display, becomes an extension of my Mac display. I simply move my mouse off of the left edge of my Mac display, and it pops up on my PC screen. From that point on all keyboard and mouse controls go to the PC. With Airport on the Mac and 100-Base-T on the PC, there is no apparent lag in performance. When I move the mouse back to the right edge of the PC screen, it returns to my Mac. Beautiful and seamless.

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MS RDC is way faster than VNC (sort of)
Authored by: ms_t_rie on Feb 02, '05 11:29:41AM

Oh, I'll agree that VNC is needed if trying to do support, but the scenario described had both machines on the same desk. I just thought it worth mentioning another OPTION, not neccessarily better :)

For me, I just use dual displays on my Mac, connect via RDC to the PC, and move the RDC window to the second display. It should behave just the same as you described that way, I use the keyboard and mouse on the Mac and when I move the mouse to the second display and click the RDC window, I'm controlling the PC session. Plus, if I wanted to, I could just use a single display (which is usually what you use a KVM for) to save space.

The lack of a shared display though IS the big disadvantage of Remote Desktop, though if you don't need sharing, the speed advantage is considerable.

Rie



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MS RDC is way faster than VNC (sort of)
Authored by: legacyb4 on Feb 02, '05 08:33:40PM

On XP, the local console gets locked and you control the same desktop as if you were sitting in front of the machine.

Windows 2000 Server also supports RDC but in Terminal Service only.



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RDC Is XP Professional, Not Home
Authored by: psandiford on Feb 01, '05 11:16:35PM

Per Microsoft, this solution is only available on the XP Professional version.



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RDC Is XP Professional, Not Home
Authored by: chris_on_hints on Feb 03, '05 12:32:57PM

Yes, thats right (i think 2003 server also has the RDC server software).

At least the client RDC is available for all windows (from 98 upwards, i believe) and works well for remote access.

For two machines on the same desk (and when they both have their own monitor), I put another vote in for osx2x to control them using the same keyboard / mouse...

and note: If your two machines are connected via a secure network (ie a home network behind a router or through encrypted airport) then the security is pretty much a non-issue... but I think a SSH tunnel is a necessity if working remotely through the internet (or on an untrusted network) to protect passwords you might be typing in and sending to your remote machine...



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