What might you find on this page? You will find information about Remote Desktop and Shared Screen.
To be clear… Kinda… Shared Screen can include Remote Desktop but Remote Desktop is not Share Screen
What is a Remote Desktop Tool? It is software that allows a person at a remote location to “see and control” another computer. “See” means they can see what is on the screen and disk of another computer. “Control” means they can operate the other computer from their remote location. Remote Desktop may not require a user on the remote desktop to authorize remote viewing or control. Typical use case: You can access your computer/desktop at work from another computer.
What is Shared Screen. Shared screen implies the user of a computer authorizes another computer/user to view and/or control what that user is doing/seeing with their computer. The user can usually control what “access” the other user has. i.e. Is the other person able to “see” your screen and/or control your computer. Control means: You can authorize the other user to use their keyboard and mouse to control your computer. Shared Screen usually puts the user that is sharing a screen in control of when and what is shared. Remote Desktop is usually configured to not require a person at the remote computer.
The differences between Remote Desktop and Shared Screen are subtle and important.
Shared Screen can be a controversial subject. Why? For years, unscrupulous people have used Shared Screen tools to swindle poorly educated computer users. Using Shared Screen tools requires the client/customer, be fully aware of how they can control (enable or disable) shared screen features.
As is usually the case, wikipedia contains a page that is titled “Comparison of Remote Desktop Software”. Wow!! There is a lot of software history on that page. The “interesting to me” columns in the tables of software are “Free for personal use”, “Free for commercial use”, and “License”. Free to use, is good, as is an an open source license (GPL). Why GPL? Because it implies a lot of “software engineering eyes” have been involved in trying to make sure the software is as safe as it needs to be, and the software is “open source”, which means you can also look at the source code.
Internet opinions about Remote Desktop and Shared Screen Here are some semi-recent items about Remote Desktop and/or Shared Screen.
This one from HowToGeek
Zoom.com offers software that represents another branch in the evolution of remote support software. Remote Desktop is a feature of the Zoom.com product as is video conferencing. Combining video conferencing and Screen Sharing, in one product, is good marketing.