Rating and comments for VNC

Window colors can be kind of funny. But works good.

Excellent program. Lightning fast compared to Remote Desktop or NetMeeting.

By default, the colors are auto-optimized depending on the initial speed of your connection. Image quality is usually perfect on a LAN. I've used VNC for several years and haven't had any trouble with it.

If you use it over the internet, beware: The free RealVNC package does not have encryption; only its commercial version does. The free version can only send passwords in plain text. However, the traffic can be sent through an encrypted SSH tunnel (which must be set up separately).

UltraVNC offers some encryption plugins, and TightVNC offers enhanced image-compression options.

It's an excellent open software for remote control, but "per se" it is not an alternative replacement for citrix or terminal server, because it takes control over a working Remote Desktop in a unique remote machine. TS or Citrix creates a new Desktop Session each time and several independent sessions coexists in the same machine.
With VNC you only takes control over the mouse, keyboard and screen.

no open source!!!!!

Good program for remote control but RDP tends to be much faster and more stable for controlling windows systems. Not even remotely an alternative to Citrix.

not open source! pay for program!