Good Remote Desktop Software?

[a1i3n777]

Hello Everyone
I need a good remote desktop software, something easy to use that anyone with no computer knowledge could use... I heard some good things about citrix... I need this to help some family members with the computer systems installing software, sharing files over a secure network etc... Any recommendations would be appreciated. It could be free or pay version, I don't really mind.

Thanks

Merry Christmas

[minidv2dvd]

merry xmas

have you tried the program included with winXP?

start/programs/accessories/remote desktop iirc.

[lordsmurf]

RealVNC
Share files via FTP.

[a1i3n777]

The only thing is, most of the people I know don't really have much computer knowledge. So I need something very simple.... I heard vnc is awesome, but a bit hard to setup both ways.

I know about the one included in xp, but I need something that will compatible with xp, vista, etc...

[JohnnyMalaria]

Remote Desktop is as simple as it gets. Launch it, tell it the computer you want to use and away you go. I'm using it right now (from an XP laptop in the house to my main Vista 64 PC above the garage).

Never used it beyond the local network, though (i.e., via the internet).

[Xylob the Destroyer]

DameWare is The Shit.
We use Citrix at work for some stuff and it's just plain shit...

[a1i3n777]

I see, yeah I need for the net. Hmmm, and do all the versions of vista work, and come with it?

That's strange... I actually heard Citrix was really well built... I want something very easy, which requires no setting up from the other user.

[edDV]

The way it works for Windows is the target computer needs to be running XPpro or Vista Ultimate/Business (not sure about Vista Premium). These can be controlled by any windows version but you need bandwidth to see detailed color.

[edDV]

... I want something very easy, which requires no setting up from the other user.

They need to be on a fast connect and it needs to be activated on their end.

The Indian support geeks are always amazed when they see my desktop

[Bodyslide]

Look at this also...Alot of info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_remote_desktop_software

[festmaster]

I installed Logmein (logmein.com) on my mother's machine a few months ago. I have been very happy with it's performance and the installation was not complicated at all. There is a free version that allows you to completely control the remote machine and a paid version that allows file transfer between your machine and the remote machine. Since the service runs as an intermediary between the host and remote computer through SSL connections, there is no need to fiddle with firewall settings on either side. GoToMyPC is supposed to be the best of these solutions, but it costs a ton of money.

[a1i3n777]

Wow that is allot of info! I will have to pick and choose :/ well let me see. I will first try out the one that is already available on my computer. If that one doesn't work, I will get one of the others.

[Bjs]

Just go with teamviewer > http://www.teamviewer.com/index.aspx

Those you need to remote only need to send you their Id and password ... this also means the person on the other end dose not need to know a lot about pc's ... very simple

[redwudz]

Just to throw in my favorite, UltraVNC. It's a mod of VNC and very easy to use and set up. The newer versions also work well with Vista. I use it from my laptop to access my other computers on the LAN to change settings and perform any other maintenance that's needed. I haven't used it over the internet, but it will also do that fairly easily. You put the viewer program on your control PC and the server programs on the other PCs. You can also email the server to anyone and set it up for internet use.

It is freeware, though contributions are gladly accepted. http://www.uvnc.com/

I tried Windows remote and never quite got it to do what I wanted. I also tried RadMin, which worked well but was a bit expensive with multiple licenses.

[DereX888]

NetMeeting (in every Windows since Win95) has Remote Desktop Sharing and much more (i.e. you can talk with the people whose desktop you "took over" remotely, providing they have speakers and microphone hooked up, you can even use cameras too). I've been using it since Windows 95 actually, and although I like VNC/UltraVNC very much, I always choose NetMeeting's Remote Desktop Sharing whenever it is Windows<->Windows connection (it doesnt work from linux obviously).
The Remote Desktop thats in the XP is probably same portion of NetMeeting (except it is limited to XP) and MSN Messenger/Messenger/Live Messenger are just the "chat portion" of the NetMeeting (with their own newer nifty GUIs and some additional panels), so basically every Windows user have no problem using NetMeeting. Just remember to use "secure incoming/outgoing calls", and select some plain color background (otherwise redrawing the screen on the remote screen takes forever).
To invoke NetMeeting for the first time on XP (I dont know about Vista - I stay away from that crapster) you just START->Run, then type "conf.exe" and hit enter.

I have netmeeting's remote desktop always running on my Windows 2000 machine (and on "home media server" running XP). That way I can always connect to those machines from anywhere in the world whenever I need.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

...The Indian support geeks are always amazed when they see my desktop

You dirty tease...
POST IT!

[JohnnyMalaria]

NetMeeting isn't on Vista. MS tried to hide it a while back hence the need to use the conf.exe command. Shame. Beats that POS called Lotus Sametime that I am afflicted with at work.

Anyway, a1i3n777, Citrix is very good. I've used it a lot in the past but it is a professional/corporate solution. The client end is free. The server end isn't. Citrix is a server-client system whereas with Remote Desktop/NetMeeting etc allow any two computers to connect.

Remote Desktop is intended for using another PC remotely. NetMeeting is intended for sharing documents etc between two or more PCs for meetings etc. Remote Desktop is easier to configure. You need to enable the remote PC once to allow desktop sharing. When you launch it, you just enter the computer name/IP address (just once - it stays in a drop-down list). One advantage of NetMeeting is that when you are connected to other computer, the desktop is still visible at the other end. With Remote Desktop, it disappears (as if someone logged out). So if you are trying to show someone how to do something, NetMeeting is a great way. Unless you are using Vista, you have both already on your system.

Both can be used over the internet but it does depend on how your net is configured at home (e.g., if you have a router that has port forwarding etc).

[a1i3n777]

Wow.... lots of info. This is very nice, all of you! I will first tryout the Remote Desktop Connection. If that doesn't really work as I want, I will go ahead and try each of the solutions you all mentioned above. UVNC looks really simple to setup, I was reading some stuff on there site, and its not too bad.

I saw a tut on youtube, and the guy mentioned " To control a pc running vista, and using xp as the control. You need to setup vista to allow other versions of Remote desk to connect" I'm going to try this out today with my aunt. She needs to setup some antivirus software on her new lappy . So hopefully I can get this done for her.

[stiltman]

Second vote for UltraVNC