Free Remote Desktop?

[KlytusLord]

Hello all,

In MS Windows remote desktop is built-in with no licensing restrictions, but unless I am missing something this does not seem to be the case with OSX - is that correct?

At the Apple website the cheapest option I found was a 10 machine version for $300!

Is there a free alternative or at least a two machine license version?

Thanks.

 

[Intell]

Windows Remote Desktop and Mac OS X Remote Desktop do very different things. The Mac version is to manage and control a lot of Macs. The Windows version to to be able to login and use a machine via its Terminal Services.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

TeamViewer would be a good alternative. It's cross-platform too.

EDIT: The free version supports chat and file transfer.

 

[KlytusLord]

Thanks for clarifying that, Intell.

Then what I am looking for is an equivalent to the MS Windows approach. I just want to manage my iMac from my MBP via a GUI.

Any suggestions?

Thanks much.

Thanks!

 

[J53119]

You could consider using logmein.com That is free, though you have to pay if you want to use it to transfer files.

 

[Peteman100]

Use Teamviewer. It works very well.

 

[StingerT125]

Did you try Screen Sharing. Turn it on under System Preferences Sharing.

 

[spacepower7]

Did you try Screen Sharing. Turn it on under System Preferences Sharing.

+1

Screen sharing has been built-in since OS 10.5

It's easier if you are one the same network, but can also be done over the internet.

 

[Panch0]

Apple remote desktop is available in the mac app store for a lower price than the boxed version - $79 sticks in my mind...

Screen Sharing works locally
Back to My Mac will allow remote screen sharing

Search for VNC - there are many free or cheap versions, although I think this is what Screen Sharing is based on anyway...

Oh, and to control a Windows PC from your mac, MS has a free Remote Desktop client available from mactopia - just in case you were looking for that...

 

[GimmeSlack12]

Screen Sharing works locally
Back to My Mac will allow remote screen sharing

No, Screen Sharing works for remote screen sharing too. Just type in VNC://<outside IP> and voila!

It works best if you use a Static DNS service like DynDNS to keep track of your remote computers IP.

If you're willing to learn a few tricks OP, you have everything you need already in OS X to do what you are asking for. There is no need to buy anything at all, if you want to know more details just ask and I'll lay it all out for you (it's not hard to do just a lot of steps are needed).

EDIT: This is how you do it:
http://lifehacker.com/365673/get-back-to-your-mac-without-paying-for-it

 

[milbournosphere]

Screen Sharing should do what you want. If not, there are many free VNC applications out there to download. Chicken of the VNC is a good one.

 

[Panch0]

No, Screen Sharing works for remote screen sharing too. Just type in VNC://<outside IP> and voila!

I may be wrong, but I think you are making some large assumptions about router, firewall, port forwarding and maybe VPN configuration. Back to my Mac takes all of those out of the equation, as do some of the other services mentioned (log me in).

 

[GimmeSlack12]

I may be wrong, but I think you are making some large assumptions about router, firewall, port forwarding and maybe VPN configuration. Back to my Mac takes all of those out of the equation, as do some of the other services mentioned (log me in).

Well, yes I didn't explicitly mention those, but Screen Sharing can do remote viewing.

 

[talmy]

I use Screen Sharing, VPN, and Microsoft Desktop Connection in various combinations to access Linux/OSX/Windows systems from Linux/OSX/Windows both remotely and locally. To remotely access my home systems I tunnel either with VPN (using my Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server which has the VPN server) or ssh. ssh requires some knowledge to set up the tunnels, which will forward ports on the local machine to the remote network, but has the advantage that no-one seems to block ssh access while VPN's ports are frequently blocked. All the necessary software is available free.

 

[RebeccaL]

Another vote here for Teamviewer. You can even control a Mac/PC from an iPhone.

 

[Bear]

As others have mentioned, Screen Sharing is the way to go. It's actually VNC (or at least VNC compatible).

The Apple Remote Desktop software that you found on the Apple site is for remote management of computers including managing software updates from one machine. This is of great use in a business of classroom where you need machines to be identical.

 

[GGJstudios]

Like others who have posted, I prefer using TeamViewer, which works with Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Ubuntu, iPhone, iPad, etc. It's very secure and quite simple to set up and use. And it's free.