Microsoft has finally released Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2 after nearly a year in beta. It allows Mac users to, according to Microsoft, “easily connect to remote Windows PCs.”
Microsoft’s website states, “With Remote Desktop Connection Client 2, you can quickly, simply and securely connect to Windows-based PCs to access Windows-based files, applications, devices, and networks from your Mac.”
Features include:
• One Mac, unlimited Windows. New Multiple Session Support gives Mac users simultaneous access to multiple Windows-based PCs or to a network server that hosts remote applications and files. Since it works with Vista and is a Universal application, Remote Desktop Connection Client 2 is compatible with the latest technologies on Windows and Mac platforms.
• A more Mac-like experience. A redesigned user interface makes this application more customizable. Create your own keyboard shortcuts; and even access and change preferences during active sessions.
• Print everything off your Mac. Access and print from Windows applications to any printer that can be configured from your Intel- or PowerPC-based Macs.
• Get fast updates and easy help. Microsoft Error Reporting Tool and Microsoft AutoUpdate are included so you can anonymously submit data on software related issues and get software updates as soon as they are available. Remote Desktop Connection Client 2 also takes advantage of the new Helpviewer and improved help topics for quick access to fresh online product help from within the application.
• Reduce security breaches. Network Level Authentication (NLA) is a new authentication method in Windows Vista that offers security enhancements that can help to protect the remote computer from hackers and malicious software. It completes user authentication before you establish a full Remote Desktop Connection. Please see Windows Help for more details on network level authentication.
This free download runs natively on both Intel-based and PowerPC-based Macs and supports eight languages: English, French, German, Italian, Swedish, Spanish, Dutch, and Japanese.
More info and download link here.
I just want to take a sec to point out that in order to use any of the screen sharing capabilities in Windows you have to be running the “Pro” version of XP or its equivalent.
Compare this to MacOSX Leopard, where any computer running 10.5 can run any other computer running 10.5 (assuming you have the capability turned on from the control panel).
I can’t wait to see the day when Microsoft creates Remote Desktop for Windows PCs to operate a Mac, in a desperate effort to remain relevant.
Here at the Luddite Institute of Technology, our MIS (Mismanged Information Systems) group insists that we use Microsoft Desktop connection to connect to the databases we need to use. Maybe this will help slightly.
I use CoRD – free, and it’s worked great for a couple years for me– I tried the RDC beta, it messed up all my saved connections – too little, too late, MS
my god, microsoft have issued a piece of software that doesn’t require a restart after installation…
However, to be fair, you have to give them credit ’cause they have made running Screen Sharing available since XP Pro first came out.
Where with OS X we really did not have a friendly way of doing it until Leopard came around.
I know with Tiger you could use VNC and activate Remote Management in the Sharing system preference…but again that isn’t as friendly as XP was doing it many many years early.
you can quickly, simply and securely connect to Windows-based PCs
Impossible. Nothing involving MS or Windows is quick, simple, or secure.
And WHY would MS be interested doing a remote connection client for Mac??
Is it a very thinly veiled back door, or a shot at fscking up OS X security?
Someone tell us what this thing really is.
@ ToeKnee
Would you please post here any info you might have on CoRD?
Thanks!
@ragarcia,
“However, to be fair, you have to give them credit ’cause they have made running Screen Sharing available since XP Pro first came out.”
Yeah, but in my experiences, it was horrid and jagged.
http://cord.sourceforge.net/
It’s great, I use it all the time.
@Jimbo
Thanks!
I like Cord, too.
not fooled asks, “And WHY would MS be interested doing a remote connection client for Mac??”
I can tell you how I/we used it at my old group (a branch of the US Treasury). I used it as a thin client to connect to Windows servers running Terminal Services. So even though I was running a Power PC Mac, with no additional software I was able to remotely access and support those servers. (Users on Windows PCs would connect to those same servers running shared applications.)
It got me thinking… This is one of those rare times where Apple might follow Microsoft (which took this technology from Citrix). If Apple were to develop a counterpart to RDC runnable on PCs to connect to a Leopard session on an Xserve, the masses could get a “taste” of Mac without (yet) replacing their PC. It couldn’t but help ease the Mac into the Enterprise.
VNC works fine for me.
The best free VNC client for Mac OS X is called JollysFastVNC. It is simple, fast, and stable.
http://www.jinx.de/JollysFastVNC.html
And note the developer’s related shareware product, ScreenRecycler, which is a very clever use of VNC.
MORE CRAPWARE!
Actually, RDC is a pretty good product and several of my clients are using it without any issues.
Usual MS attention to detail: Installer says it needs 108KB on your disk. Application is really 17MB.
so, Raymond, your saying Enterprise IT needs to “taste” OS X, to see if they like it?
i’ll take with here_it_comes, with a bullet, iPhone penetration, first then perhaps… but a few iMacs and load up Vista.
ya, that ought to do it.
you taste you pay!
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sheesh, c1 i can;t typw wihout you.
so, Raymond, your saying Enterprise IT needs to “taste” OS X, to see if they like it?
i’ll take… here_it_comes… with a bullet, iPhone penetration, first, then perhaps… but a few iMacs and load up Vista. D’OH!
ya, that ought to do it.
you taste you pay!
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i fg=guve up.
BEWARE!!!!
I just installed this and got my first kernal panic in years! First, my application icon changed to an x.. then I restarted and got a kernal panic… F-YOU MICROSOFT!!!!!! Had to reinstall my cisco VPN software too.. what did this installation do to my computer? I was fine an hour ago..
To those who mentioned working remotely over Leopard, I would also add what many might not know. Leopard will let you see and control any mac with 10.5 or 10.4 within the same network. In other words for example, my wife currently uses my old 800MHz G3 iBook running 10.4.11 and I can see and take control of it from either my iMac or my Powerbook as long as I am on my home network. Not sure how far back OS wise that feature goes but was I shocked the first time I saw it and it has come in handy on many occasions.
-MG
Why are we installing MS stuff? I thought we were past that.
You can do just the same with TeamViewer (http://www.teamviewer.com) which works on PC or Mac.
Many IT shops have these Windows servers. I need to access about a dozen different Windows servers using Remote Desktop. They all sit in a data centre in a building across the street. I manage them from my office and this will finally allow me to access them properly from a Mac.
While VNC works well, Remote Desktop is oftentimes the only allowed application/protocol.
Maybe this is for when you need more than just screen sharing (kind of like when you’d buy apple remote desktop).
FWIW, I tried to connect to a pee cee in my office using the new built in screen sharing app’ in Leopard and it didn’t connect. RealVNC server was installed on the pc and it would connect but just give a blank screen.
I went and downloaded chicken of the vnc and it connected up fine. For some reason it was slow as sh-t even though we were on the same local network, though, where Leopard screen sharing is almost instant in that case when going mac to mac even when both are on the same wireless router.
I guess this new version would be good if you don’t have a vnc server running on the pc you want to connect to or if you need more capabilities than just screen sharing?