Control a PC from a Mac - remote desktop

[ZippyUK]

Sorry if this is slightly off topic.

I am going to buy a 2nd hand mac to use as my main computer, but I intend to keep my P4 2.53GHz desktop for encoding and DVD burning for now as I cannot afford a top of the range mac, yet.

Is there any way I can control my PC through the Mac, similar to the remote desktop feature on Windows XP based machines?

I have a home network 100mbit via a ADSL router with 4 port switch.

Thanks

[ZippyUK]

Think I may have found the solution, but it's a Microsoft one

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/download/misc/RDC.asp

Anyone used Remote Desktop Connection Client 1.0.1 for Mac?

Will it work with XP Home, as it only says XP Pro?

XP Home has Remote Destop Services running, which is all it says is required.

Thanks

Neil

[sterno]

I don't know anything about RDC, but if it doesn't work well you might also look in to one of the free VNC-based systems. For more information, take a look at some of the web pages:

• http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/
• http://www.realvnc.com/
• http://www.tightvnc.com/

[havema-1]

We have been using Timbuktu from Netopia with good success with Win 95-98-2000-XP and Mac 9.1-10.1.5-10.2.5.

With Timbuktu you can Control, Observe, Chat, Notify and Exchange files either via TCP/IP or Dial Direct via modem.

There is a twin-pack which includes Win and Mac versions. I guess there is also a demo version.

[MacDSL]

Netopia Timbuktu is the best/easiest way to go. As a network Admin. supporting 10 sites around the US, I live and die by this app. I can tontrol servers, desktops, and it is wayyyy easier than "talking" someone through an issue. My only gripe is that a monitor HAS to be connected at startup or Timbuktu just shows a blank screen.....So...

If the computers are close, and you want cheap, just share a monitor cable...

[yexplorer]

VNC works pretty well.

[Eug]

Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection is an excellent program. I use it all the time with my TiBook over the wireless network. Works with XP Pro for sure. Dunno if it works with XP Home though.

By the way, some DVD burning software on the PC side has given me troubles at times. Toast on the Mac works every time however. You might want to invest in a Firewire external DVD burner and that way you can use the burner with both the Mac and the PC.

[ZippyUK]

Thanks for the comments.

If I like the mac I've just purchased on ebay to try (G4 400 AGP Powermac), I'll be buying a better one to replace my PC in the near future.

Neil