Remote Desktop App?

[wiredspider]

I've been playing around with Windows XP's built in remote desktop. It works ok for now, but it would be nice for some additional things. I've only worked with remote desktop on my internal network, I'm not sure how it will work if I happen to be on something external trying to access one of my PCs. I think I'm going to get a chance to try it out next week when I'm in New York (if I can get an internet connection...).

Anyhow I want specifically these things:
-To be able to access my PCs from an external network, I have cable so my computers are always connected to the internet
-To be able to access my PCs without installing anything on my client machine (the one I'm accessing with)
-To not have the PC I'm accessing "lock out"
-Because now when I access the machine, it will log out any user on and display the XP login screen. When I'm in NY, I want to be able to login in certain accounts so my brother can use it at specific times. Also, so that I can monitor what he is doing on the computer. ie if he says he is typing up a paper, I can expect to see Word up and not HL2...

The one 3rd party app I have tried so far is LogMeIn, it's ok, but I think there could be better things out there. I am open to other suggestions as well. Is there something I can configure with Remote Desktop to meet my needs or has someone already made an application that would meet my needs? Preferably a free application .

Thanks for any help .

 

[Confused]

VNC.

With many releases of it you can view the display using a Java interface through a web browser. This will give you an image of the screen as it is, without locking the desktop like RD does.

You will probably need to forward the relevent ports on your router so that you can access each specific computer from outside.


Confused

 

[wiredspider]

I have seen a lot about VNC when I was searching up about RD. I haven't done much research on it, but there seems to be so much stuff on it. Can anymore point me to more narrow spectrum of VNC or simply any recommendations for me? Thanks

 

[Cristatus]

I think RealVNC is the most commonly used VNC program:

http://www.realvnc.com/

 

[Schadenfroh]

another vote for realvnc

 

[timswim78]

I tried RealVNC, but I prefer UltraVNC.
http://www.ultravnc.com
It has lots of great features, like file transfer, java (you can log into the machine from any browser with java), and more.

 

[JackBurton]

VNC or RAdmin.

 

[Nithin]

Originally posted by: timswim78
I tried RealVNC, but I prefer UltraVNC.
http://www.ultravnc.com
It has lots of great features, like file transfer, java (you can log into the machine from any browser with java), and more.

plus ultravnc has a video drive that gives improved performance over realvnc.

unless real has added it too.