Using a notebook as a 'dumb terminal' for a desktop - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 07:18:52 am
content: Hi guys,I'm thinking of buying a new computer, something with some respectable power and relatively cheap - a desktop. The problem with that idea is that I've gotten used to a notebook - carrying it around, working both at my desk and at my couch.I was thinking, whether it was possible to use the notebook as a kind of dumb terminal for the desktop - essentially just a portable screen, keyboard and touchpad. The connection (screen transfer) would have to be via my home wifi.The reasoning behind this is that I can get a reasonably powerful desktop with all the bells and whistles (good GPU for gaming, lots of storage for work and stuff) for a quite lower price than a notebook of equivalent power, and I do enjoy being a lazy bastard on the couch. Also, having two or more completely separate computers is bothersome as far as syncing them goes.The remote desktop stuff I've tried so far is not exactly very responsive and I don't think that it would be fit for gaming or CAE design.Any suggestions, opinions?Thanks,David

author: hamster_nz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 08:00:58 am
content: Remote Desktop is about as good as it gets.The bandwidth of a HDMI display is about 100x that of a WiFi connection, so you can't just send the raw pixels to your laptop at 60 frames per second...

author: capt bullshot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 08:06:31 am
content: I guess this setup won't work for anything requiring real time frame rates like gaming. Also videos won't be nice.Other applications - well it depends on OS and remote control method."Dumb" screen transfer protocols like VNC will always suffer from lagging, use them only if everything else failsFor linux bases systems, remote control works fine using the X server protocol, this was designed with remote access in mind.Windows has built-in RDP (which should be similar in performance), or various third party solutions (like Citrix and whatsoever).Citrix and cousins is widely used in corporate environments, these work over LAN and WAN with enough performance for your average office work.None of the above is supposed to work satisfyingly for applications requiring fast screen operations (like gaming, video editing, complex 3D graphics). These should be rendered and displayed on the same piece of hardware - the graphics card connected to your screen.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 09:22:17 am
content: +1 for Remote Desktop. It's built into (most versions of) Windows and it works very well. It will also give you remote access to things like local printers and audio. It's simple and it works.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 09:52:03 am
content: You could always use the notebook with remote desktop for input, while also running a HDMI cable from the main PC to the TV near your couch. Wireless mouse & keyboard linked to the notebook, but watch the cursor etc on the TV?Though I'm guessing the key and mouse lag times would be unpredictable and so a problem for gaming.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 10:04:15 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on April 12, 2017, 09:52:03 amYep. Most consumer TV's will have significant delay between "real time" input and what is displayed on the monitor, even high-end models. Computer monitors and Televisions are generally not interchangeable for many applications.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 01:55:53 pm
content: Video plays OK over RDP and Citrix ICA (Citrix is always a step ahead - but the current RDP incorporates previous gen Citrix technology).Gaming, no way.Everything else - especially if you tie in at LAN speed, is just like being there.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 04:14:57 pm
content: People have been playing games on their big screen TVs for years. Granted X Box and PlayStation games are not as "twitchy" as PC shooters, but even PC fps games are playable However, it's not something that competitive players would do.I switched almost 10 years ago and while input lag does exist, it was more difficult for me to get used to the different playing position and view (due to screen at a distance with small viewing angle vs. screen up close with wide viewing angle).

author: tino_so
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2017, 04:34:26 pm
content: RDP works file, I even use it from my tablet, yes Microsoft has an app for thatThe only thing that comes to mind is sometimes scaling of items on the console/PC might be a bit off on the RDP session. This may be important when dealing with CAD or even some graphics design workflows, but otherwise it should be almost as good as being there.Cheers,Tino

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2017, 06:13:40 am
content: Damn, so no easy way outThanks guys for the suggestions.QuoteSorry for the confusion, I was not suggesting using a TV at all - my version of 'lazy guy on a couch' means that I lay on the couch and use my notebook.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2017, 08:02:09 pm
content: I do this nearly every day at work, though in my case, "lazy guy on the couch" means "lazy guy who doesn't want to drive to a client 500 miles away"

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2017, 08:51:15 pm
content: I've had good experience with Splashtop in the past, the framerate is higher than RDP.Not been using it for a while so not sure what the current state is, but have a look:https://www.splashtop.com/personal