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VNC What is VNC all about? Installing VNC on Windows 95/98 Getting Started and Using VNC Tips and tricks Related Links 1. VNC Official Homepage - check here to grab the most up-to-date version of VNC 2. VNC Documentation

What price would you give to use your computer from anywhere in the world? What would you give to be able to remotely control somebody else's computer as if you were in front of it? If the answer is anything but nothing, then VNC is definitely the product for you. In fact, before you take out your wallet, you might want to know that it's also FREE. Yes, free.

The idea of Virtual Network Computing is all a bit confusing at first. Take a look at some screenshots to get familiar with this revolutionary, new idea. Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

Windows Desktop on a Macintosh Computer	Windows Desktop in Netscape on a Unix Computer	Unix Desktop on a Macintosh Computer	Windows Desktop on a Unix Computer

These screenshots were taken from the VNC Screenshot Page.

Mobile Computing:
Let's say you're working on a document at work. Then you go home for the day and realize you need to continue on your project. Since the work computer is always connected to the internet, you merely dial-up to your ISP and start your VNC and connect to your machine at work and continue right where you left off, perhaps even starting right in the middle of the sentence you were writing when you left. This is an example of VNC's ``stateless'' quality.

Helping Others:
Another use is for LAN users. Using VNC, you can see and use the computer physically located somewhere else in the building from your own desk. This could be a colleague who needs to be shown how to configure or set something up on her computer. With VNC, as you control her computer, she'll be able to watch you move the mouse and get the work done.

Merging Operating Systems:
Another use utilizes the cross-platform aspect of VNC. The fact that you can virtually be at your desk no matter where you are, means you don't need to find a program here and a program there to accomplish your work. You simply use your own computer wherever you go as if you were sitting in front of it.

So the use of VNC can be divided into two. Either you use it to use other computers, or you use it to use your own computer no matter where you are. The ability to do everything from anywhere is a powerful selling point of this product. The other selling point it has is that it's free.

Let me use my own computer through another computer? Yes. VNC runs on a variety of platforms. Currently, these are Windows 95/98, Windows NT 4.0, Solaris 2.5, Linux, FreeBSD, Macintosh, and DEC Alpha OSF1 3.2. From any platform to another or the same platform, VNC will bridge the gap.

For all you programmers: The software is free, covered under the terms and conditions of the GNU General Public License. First read what ORL has to say about this.

Installing VNC on Windows 95/98/NT