Aug 26 2006
Remote Access Face-off pcAnywhere versus Timbuktu Pro
In the world of corporate IT, remote access to your computer is more than a convenience. It has become a must. Accessing your Mac from work or around the world is less trouble than you think. If you have an always-on connection the door is open to get to your Mac from anywhere on your LAN or the ‘net.
In this double-review we’ll look at products from two of the companies that have been at it the longest. Both offer cross-platform access and full control of your remote computer. But what about the Mac factor? I took both solutions to task and am back to report.
Symantec’s pcAnywhere Cross-platform version
Symantec makes some great, industry leading products. But they aren’t always Mac friendly. OS X support is new to this new version of the popular remote PC solution, and many Mac owners are probably unaware that this product even exists. It also supports Linux, making it the most flexible commercial solution out there.
With pcAnywhere, PCs and Macs are accessed by IP address, so be prepared for some port-forwarding fun if you plan on connecting from outside your network. It works, but could be tough to configure (depending on your broadband provider). The Cross Platform Host/Thin Client runs on Java and can be installed onto a remote computer. It is no shock that the Mac documentation is sparse – but you should know that your installation will fail unless you install as root (or using sudo).
The Mac experience on pcAnywhere isn’t great. Quality of connection depends a lot on where you are connecting to. You’ll get a very functional but ugly 256 color connection to other Macs from your Mac. But if you are connecting to your Mac host from a PC the connection is very slick. The Cross Platform host does a great job of sending your desktop out, but the Cross Platform client is less than impressive.
pcAnywhere isn’t the solution for a Mac only environment. It is perfect for Macs you want to add to and access from PC networks, so this product is best seen as an extension to the PC client. What’s more, licensing is easy, You can split your two licenses between a Mac and a PC rather than have to buy an add-on license.
Netopia’s Timbuktu Pro for Mac
Netopia is no stranger to Macs. They’ve been supported since the classic Mac days. You can tell this because they haven’t updated their icons since. That said, the interface may not be anything to shout about, but advanced new features make this one useful solution. In addition to push-install and standard remote connection features like those in pcAnywhere, Timbuktu features chat and clipboard sharing. Like pcAnywhere, it can find hosts on your network, but the real selling point of this solution is its simplification of connections from beyond your LAN.
In 8.6 Timbuktu introduces Skype support. No, really this does make sence. Skype has some of the best NAT navigation talents out there. What this means is that any computer you can see in Skype you can connect to with Timbuktu. Timbuktu access Skype’s API and goes along for the ride. But don’t expect miracles. The speed and quality of the connection depend on the quality of the networks.
Timbuktu isn’t as out-of-the-box friendly as pcAnywhere. For example, to access a Timbutu remote desktop, you either need to have a user account created on the remote computer (and sufficient privileges granted that user) to access or you have to have someone using the remote computer grant you permission. There is a PC version that has an even uglier interface but works well with the Mac host (and vice versa).
Conclusion
In most cases the type of computers you are connecting, your connection type and your budget will determine which solution is best for you. If you’ll be jumping on your Mac from a PC, Symantec has your product. If you’re living on an all Mac utopia, go with Netopia. And there is also the free alternative for basic (or backup) access: VNC. Both of the above solutions sport features and benefits over the free alternative (like access via the Internet and lower bandwidth usage), not to mention security. But money is money right? Fortunately both of the above solutions go for just under $100 per license.
Sounds like a lot of trouble, right? I think that you’ll find the joy of accessing your Mac remotely well worth it.
Buy Symantec pcAnywhere (2 user license) Product Info
Buy Timbuktu Pro 8.6 for Mac (2 user license) Product Info
