Get APLawrence.com by RSSMac Screen sharing is not just for Macs
2008/01/03
Mac's new Leopard OS X has added a "Screen Sharing" capability. For Mac A
to control Mac B's screen, Mac B simply has to turn on Screen Sharing in System Preferences->Sharing. Mac B will show up in Mac A's sidebar in Finder Windows, and clicking on that will offer a "Share Screen" button that let's
you connect.
But what about connecting to a Windows box? Well, how about this:
That's Mac Screen Sharing connecting to a TightVNC server on my wife's Windows XP machine (click it for a larger image). I'm looking at QuickBooks and wondering why I haven't made any money so far this month.. oh, yeah, I've been goofing off this week - that'll do it!
To make that connection from Finder, I just clicked "Go->Connect to Server" and typed in "vnc://10.10.1.2" (that machine's IP address). That's it, and of course if ports were open, I could have just as easily done that across the Internet.
That last part is very important to me for supporting customers who haven't made other arrangements for remote access: I send them to the TightVNC site, help them adjust their router to forward 5900 inward to that machine, and that's all I need.
By the way, TightVNC gives a link to this Port Forwarding site. I haven't tried that out with a live customer yet, but if their router is on the list there, it looks like I could just have the customer reconfigure their router semi-automatically.. gosh, that could save a lot of confusion.
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Related Posts
Mon Mar 3 15:39:47 2008: Subject: PC-Mac-Linux screen sharing AnnaM
www.livelook.net
100% web-based screen sharing tool such as LiveLOOK results in even more cross-platform flexibility. Since LiveLOOK is web-based, you can use it on PC, Mac or Linux. There is no software to install - just click a button, and you can show your screen to anybody on any computer. http://www.livelook.net
Mon Mar 3 15:42:57 2008: Subject: TonyLawrence
There are dozens of such things: GotoMyPC, Logmein.. VNC is free..
Mon Mar 3 19:08:57 2008: Subject: web-based tool difference AnnaM
http://www.livelook.net
LiveLOOK is substantially different from older VNC-based technologies (i.e. GoToMyPc, LogMeIn, etc.). Can you look at Mac screen from PC using GoToMyPC or LogMeIn? The answer is no. LiveLOOK can – without installing anything on Mac or PC.
Here is the reason why:
1. Older tools are VNC-based, which means they require downloads. LiveLOOK has abandoned VNC standard and is 100% web-based, which means it requires no software downloads.
2. Older VNC-based tools allow someone on a Mac to view a screen (join a presentation) of someone on PC, but they do not allow someone on Mac to show their screen to someone on PC. VNC-based tools require downloads for the person who is showing their screen. LiveLOOK allows both showing and seeing a screen on any platform and requires no downloads either for a person who is showing a screen, or for a person who is viewing the screen.
3. Being web-based is structurally different than being VNC-based. Differences on structure/strategy level are similar to differences between Google Apps and Microsoft Office. Web-based applications are on-demand, they install nothing on your computer, and work universally on any computer with a browser (Google Apps, LiveLOOK). Applications based on installations of executables, and are, therefore, limited to being platform-specific (GoToMeeting, WebEx, LogMeIn).
4. Firewall and security alarms issues are also worth mentioning – any executable sets them off. A web-based tool is viewed as regular internet traffic, and has no issues with firewalls and personal alarm systems.
Mon Mar 3 21:18:57 2008: Subject: TonyLawrence
Ok - fair points..
Thu May 1 19:29:54 2008: Subject: Vine Server Nate
Take a look at Vine Server from Redstone Software. The server seems to be free and I am connecting to my Mac at home from my PC at work.
Fri May 30 03:40:52 2008: Subject: LiveLOOK == Web-only?? Come ON! Paul
LiveLOOK requires JAVA -- that is hardly a 'No Download' technology! It requires a Java runtime on Windows (which does not ship standard), and it runs a Java Applet, which is running local code on your PC! So how is this any different than running a VNC server or Vine on your Mac to allow your PC to connect to it?
Don't be fooled by the marketing hype.
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