For those unfortunate ones who need to remotely connect to a Windows computer for whatever reason, Microsoft has released an update to Remote Desktop Connection, their utility that lets you remotely connect to a Windows computer from a Mac.
Remote Desktop Connection 2.0b3 is now a Universal Binary, meaning it runs equally well (or crummy for that matter) on PowerPC and Intel-based Macs—why this rather basic development has taken so long, we don’t know.
Another improvement to the software is its inclusion of Remote Desktop Protocol 6.0, which provides better compatibility with Windows Vista, and I know how you’ve all been dying to run Vista through your Mac. The update also lets you connect to multiple computers at the same time as well as dynamically resize the screen. Get the download for free from Microsoft’s Web site.
As always, CoRD is better.
RDC 2.0 has been a universal binary since last summer!! RDC 1.0 was powerpc only. RDC 2.0 beta 1 and beta 2 have been universal binary all along. This update is simply a beta upgrade. Binary status hasn't changed. Your "why this rather basic development has taken so long, we don't know" comment is entirely misplaced.
http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/07/31/microsoft-releases-remote-desktop-for-mac-2-0-beta
I have been using RDC since the universal binary released last summer. I've found it to be extremely stable and fast (better than CoRD, which i was using earlier). As much as we like to deride MS, we should give them credit where its due. Its the blind fanboy speak (especially when untrue as in this post) like this that gives us mac enthusiasts a bad name.
I find RDC of moderately more utility than yet another shareware macro program, but maybe that's just me. RDC is cool because you can have some Windows boxes lying around, but never need to actually go look at them to use them. Kind of like Parallels, but with Windows running over on its own box.
As someone who has both Macs and PCs at home, I find this quite helpful, so that I don't need to be running back and forth between two rooms. I just wish that there was a good program for going in reverse (from Win to OS X).
I have a windows PC at work, and a Macbook Pro at home. I find RDC by far the easiest way to run windows on a mac for lots of reasons.
I don't need a virus checker on the mac, and I don't have the CPU drainage of Parallels or any other virtualization software. No hard disk usage, and a nice window into the other world that stays 'over there' outside my mac.
The best of all worlds...
Knowing that 70% of visitors to my site use an Explorer/Windows combo, means regular testing on more than the Mac I use for developing the site.
Remote access proves to be a much more practical way for me to do this than Parallels, Bootcamp or running around from computer to computer.
I manage nine Windows server from my Mac (the only one in the office). For me, RDC is invaluable. It works well, though the cap lock toggle problem still exists for me with Beta 3.
Kenny-
LogMeIn can go from Win to OS X. And it's free. (www.LogMeIn.com)