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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Mon Mar 3 15:39:47 2008: Subject: PC-Mac-Linux screen sharing AnnaM
http://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 19:08:56 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.
Fri Jul 24 15:48:20 2009: Subject: Hey LiveLookers -- stop lying chris
With VNC (or Logmein, etc) I can actually *run* applications on the remote machine. I can *install* applications on the other machine. Can you do that? Um, no.
Either you're fantastically ignorant of the fact that many people need to do actual work on remote or headless machines, or, in your zeal to spam BS about your (sad) product, you strive to confuse people anyway.
Take Control of Exploring & Customizing Snow Leopard
Fri Jul 24 19:09:29 2009: Subject: TonyLawrence
So this silly thing just shows another screen?
Possible useful in some contexts, but nothing to do with what we're talking about here!
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