Remote Desktop in Vista is a disaster

[Guest]

I was all ready to drop some serious cash to upgrade to Vista today when I
learned that Remote Desktop feature is now considered some rare luxury only
available on the Business and Ultimate versions. For home users with
multiple computers (are there any families left in America that have only one
PC??), this is a complete disaster.

I think I am a pretty simple and very typical home user - I've got a laptop,
and I've got a desktop and I've been remote desktopping between the two for
eons (we will leave out of this that of course my son also has a desktop and
a laptop, and the hub has a laptop - God forbid it would be nice to be able
to remote desktop with those using Vista (as I do now), but I won't get
greedy). I only HAVE TO remote desktop - in BOTH directions - between my
laptop and my desktop.

Microsoft has decided this is some ultra fancy feature now out of reach for
mere mortals. Right now my XP Pro desktop and humble Media Center laptop
(which was installed on zillions of home computers) can be accessed in both
directions, no sweat. But now, with the new fantastic operating system that
costs major bucks, this feature is being removed!

At first I saw that if I popped for an Ultimate upgrade (an eye-popping
$250), that I would be able to purchase other Vista editions for $50 - AH,
but they certainly won't do remote desktop. So to get the same simple
functionality I have now - just to connect my own two computers - I would
have to drop $500 HUNDRED DOLLARS simply to get the ability to remote desktop
between my my desktop and my laptop. This is absolutely insane, and
guarantees that I would be crazy to even consider upgrading to Vista.

Here's another kicker: My desktop probably can't really hack Vista (too
much older hardware that could pose conflicts, lack of upgradeability) -- so
it would be natural to put the Vista Ultimate on my laptop that is only a
year old, that I do use more than the desktop because of freedom of location.
BUT the machine I need to remote desktop INTO literally dozens of times a
day... is the DESKTOP.

I thought Microsoft had finally gotten into it's head that home computer
users are no longer the one computer simpletons of the olden days - for
example, their marketing of the "Students and Teachers" version of Office
that included licenses for 3 machines at a very reasonable price seemed to
indicate they got what the typical home scenario is these days. But here
they go right back to the dark ages.... asserting that the only people who
need such an exotic feature as remote desktop are fancy business users. As a
further kick in the tush, you can't even just get the Business version for
home because, duh, you then don't get the Media Center features!!! Want the
same functionality that you enjoy now - it's $500 bucks or forget it.

Today I would have happily popped for the Ultimate, and the $50 for an extra
copy... around $300... but now have no intention of ever upgrading to Vista
until it shows up on a new machine I buy in the future. I guess I should
thank Bill for saving me some hard-earned cash.



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[Sooner Al [MVP]]

From Microsoft's point of view it seems, at least to me, to be no different
than the existing difference between a XP Professional computer which can
act as a Remote Desktop host versus a XP Home computer that can not act as a
Remote Desktop host.

Like it or not that is the way it is. There are alternatives like Virtual
Network Computing (VNC) which at some point should, or may already, run on
Vista. Personally I always recommend UltraVNC since it includes an
encryption plug-in.

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

 

[Patrick]

My Vista Home Premium install must be broken, because Remote Desktop is
fully functional here.

 

[Guest]

I would still counter that the operating system most dominantly pre-installed
on new computers targeted at home users in recent years was Media Center
Edition - not the Home version. And MCE had the ability to act as a Remote
Desktop host (not just as a client), just as XP Pro machines did. Now there
is NO Vista home product that includes this important feature, therefore it
is a step backwards, when Vista claims to be a step forwards. Especially
considering that Vista now offers both a basic home version, and a 'deluxe'
home version, Remote Desktop should have at least been included in the deluxe
version.

 

[Guest]

Ummm.....Remote Desktop is available in Vista Home Premium. I can say with a
level of certaintly as I have Vista Home Premium and I have been using Remote
Desktop.

 

[Dave R.]

Ummm.....Remote Desktop is available in Vista Home Premium. I can say
with a
level of certaintly as I have Vista Home Premium and I have been using
Remote
Desktop.

Vista Home Premium does indeed include the Remote Desktop *Client* (that
is, you can Remote Desktop from Vista Home Premium to another machine)
but it does not include the Remote Desktop *Host* (that is, you cannot
Remote Desktop into a machine running Vista Home Premium).

Regards,

Dave

 

[Guest]

I see, thank you for the clarification.

So can I assume that MS does not offer a Remote Desktop Host download to add
that ability to Vista?

 

[Dave R.]

I see, thank you for the clarification.

So can I assume that MS does not offer a Remote Desktop Host download
to add
that ability to Vista?

No, only the Business, Enterprise and Ultimate versions of Vista support
Remote Desktop Host.

Best Regards,

Dave

 

[chillzatl]

You're not a typical home user. As much as you would like to convince
yourself of that in order to support arguement, you simply aren't. 99%
of the average home users out there have no idea what RDP is, how to
use it and why they would use it. XP home didn't include it because
99% of home users have no need for it. Most homes still only have one
computer and in the cases where they have more than one, I doubt you
would find many who complained about having to get up and walk to the
other computer if they needed something there. Accept that what you
want to do is not typical of home users and buy the version of vista
that does what you need. It is an improvement over XP in nearly every
regard. With that said, you aren't going to miss much (for now) by
staying on XP.

 

[Ontario]

You're not a typicalhomeuser. As much as you would like to convince
yourself of that in order to support arguement, you simply aren't. 99%
of the averagehomeusers out there have no idea what RDP is, how to
use it and why they would use it.XPhomedidn't include it because
99% ofhomeusers have no need for it. Most homes still only have one
computer and in the cases where they have more than one, I doubt you
would find many who complained about having to get up and walk to the
other computer if they needed something there. Accept that what you
want to do is not typical ofhomeusers and buy the version ofvista
that does what you need. It is an improvement overXPin nearly every
regard. With that said, you aren't going to miss much (for now) by
staying onXP.

Horsecrap....I have an XP pro laptop. I have an XP pro desktop and
constantly used RD to connect from my convenient kitchen to my
inconvenient upstairs den...
I just bought a brand spanking nw 1000+ Vista Home PREMIUM (emphasis
on PREMIUM). I can no longer connect from my convenient kitchen to my
inconvenient upstairs den.

THIS IS A SEVERE STEP BACKWARDS. Microsoft, reconsider this
decision. Allow a free download of RD for Vista Home PREMIUM
(emphasis on PREMIUM) users.

This is indeed a step backwards.

I agree 100% with Andante..

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[Michael A. Bishop \(MSFT\)]

You were running XP Pro -- that is, a business SKU. You replaced it with
Home Premium, the Vista equivalent of XP's Media Center and Tablet PC
editions. That means you got more home features and gave up the business
features. Check the features list for the edition of Windows you're
getting -- as noted, most home users *do not* use Remote Desktop, and so the
home editions don't include it.

You're arguing, essentially, that because you purchased a home edition where
before you had a business edition, you should get the business edition
features for free. I'm sorry, it doesn't work that way. If you need both
the home and business features together, that's what Ultimate is for -- it
provides every feature from every SKU, plus a couple. Use Anytime Upgrade.

 

[soles1080]

You were running XP Pro -- that is, a business SKU. You replaced it withHomePremium, theVistaequivalent of XP's Media Center and Tablet PC
editions. That means you got morehomefeatures and gave up the business
features. Check the features list for the edition of Windows you're
getting -- as noted, mosthomeusers *do not* use Remote Desktop, and so thehomeeditions don't include it.

You're arguing, essentially, that because you purchased ahomeedition where
before you had a business edition, you should get the business edition
features for free. I'm sorry, it doesn't work that way. If you need both
thehomeand business features together, that's what Ultimate is for -- it
provides every feature from every SKU, plus a couple. Use Anytime Upgrade.

"Ontario" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de









- Show quoted text -

I understand both sides of the discussion, BUT i upgraded from Media
Center Edition 2005 which had the ability to act as a RD HOST. In what
kind of twisted reality do you UPGRADE and loose functionality. I
enjoy having a MCE because of the options of recording TV, but also do
alot of work at home and need to access my PC from work occasionaly.
It is looking more and more that I will return to MCE 2005 because it
has more functionality and Vista Home Premium is not a true UPGRADE.

 

[Guest]

You just invalidated your own statement You state that Vista Home Premium is
the equivalent of XP's Media Center Edition or the Tablet PC edition. MCE
included this ability, as well as the Tablet PC edition of Windows XP. By
your own statement, these are not business editions. I agree with the others
that this is a backwards step, not progress.

-Robert

:

"> You were running XP Pro -- that is, a business SKU. You replaced it with

 

[Guest]

UNTRUE! I have a PC at home that I always remote into to check my email or
look up phone numbers. I don't need a PDA because of this. I also do other
things but I remote into it every day from work! It was XP Pro because I
needed IIS. It's nuts that Home PREMIUM is missing this! There is a hack
for it if you look around!

 

[Guest]

Hey now, you're completely wrong and off base with that statement. The more
people out there that are aware of the ability to remote back in to their
desktop, the more of them like it and do it! I never knew something like
this existed on XP until about 1.5 years ago and can honestly say that I use
it almost daily. It is a function that I see as no longer a nice thing to
have but moreso a critical need.

I made the mistake of upgrading my desktop to Home Basic thinking that I
could use the crack from Greenbutton.com that is there for Home Premium (I've
installed this on my Home Premium laptop and it works wonderfully). Sadly,
there is something eles missing from the HB OS that prevents this from
working.

Microsoft MUST revisit this decision and make this important feature
available to the majority of users that when finally forced to migrate to
Vista, will pick one of the Home OS'.

In my estimation and opinion, this is a major oversight on their part.

 

[Guest]

I think you've said everything that needs to be said. They blew this one and
need to fix it.

This OS is so much more expensive than it's predecessors and therefore I
EXPECT more. I think I get that overall but this point is a mjor step
backwards.

 

[Guest]

http://realvnc.com/products/personal/ < although RDC is nice because it is
built in, this will work. It is superior to RDC in many respects.

 

[ST3V3 K3SL3R]

MSFT - Let me add a wrench to this discussion.

I recently purchased Windows HOME Server, which advertises he ability to
remotely access your HOME computers. Additionally, I upgraded my XP Pro and
XP MCE computers to Vista HOME "Premium". By doing this upgrade I have lost
the ability (without hacking termsrv.dll) to remotely access my HOME
computers - as advertised by Microsoft HOME Server.

As you can see, I am a die-hard MS fan and customer.

However I agree that the disabling of Remote Desktop Conneciton (host) from
the Vista HOME "Premium" is a major mistake on MS Marketing's part.

It is a simple solution (modify termsrv.dll) and MS just needs to get this
discussion in the hands of someone that can understand it - like Gates or
Ballmer.