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Install a software-only keyboard/monitor switcher
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.
MS RDC is way faster than VNC
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. ;-)
MS RDC is way faster than VNC (sort of)
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.
MS RDC is way faster than VNC (sort of)
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 :)
MS RDC is way faster than VNC (sort of)
On XP, the local console gets locked and you control the same desktop as if you were sitting in front of the machine.
RDC Is XP Professional, Not Home
Per Microsoft, this solution is only available on the XP Professional version.
RDC Is XP Professional, Not Home
Yes, thats right (i think 2003 server also has the RDC server software). |
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