[General Topics] Menneisyys:
Remote desktop resolution?: is the remote desktop resized when the remote client connects to it or does it stay at the original size? In most cases, the latter is preferable, particularly with clients that also allow for sharing the screen with the local user of the remote desktop.

It's only RDP that resizes the remote desktop: the built-in TSC to VGA and the Mocha client to SVGA size. All other solutions keep it at its original size.

Forcing the remote desktop size to the available view – on the server? ("Limit size of server desktop to fit on this screen?") (1:1 pixels and no client-size rescaling): in here, I've listed whether the given controller can be made to force the remote desktop side to fit into the available client screen estate without the need for any kind of zooming or scrolling. As can clearly be seen, it'ss only the built-in TSC and GotoMyPC that are able to do this. Remember, however, not to enable this feature on QVGA devices - only on VGA ones!

Rescaling on the client side so that the desktop image is visible (and editable) on the client w/o scrolling?: TSC has always lacked "scale (zoom out) to the available screen estate" functionality; the other RDP-based client, the Mocha client, already knows this; as with most the non-RDP-based alternatives. This functionality is especially useful, particularly on VGA devices, to be instantly able to navigate on the full desktop screen, without the need for scrolling.

Client-side zooming?: in here, I've listed whether the client is able to zoom and if it is, what zoom steps are available. (Note that z2 is able to zoom in/out with not only icons but also hardware buttons, as has already been stated in the "Hardware button shortcuts" row.)

Remote desktop resolution settable?: some applications (LogMeIn and RemotelyAnywhere) are able to dynamically set the remote desktop resolution (even using Portrait resolutions if you prefer staying in that mode to avoid for example eyestrain because of lower-quality screens not very eye-friendly in Landscape mode - see for example this for more info) from inside the applications. Note that the standard resolution (re)setting (Settings / Control Panel / Display / Settings) works with most other applications too, except for, of course, RDP-based ones; the worst that can happen is that the client (automatically) reconnects (as with the case with, say, PT PO). This also means the local remote desktop user may change the desktop resolution any time, even with hardware keyboard-based shortcuts (for example, the one on UXGA notebooks to quickly switch to SVGA mode - and back); the clients, in general, will automatically notice and use the changes.

Scrolling on page: if you don't stick to scaled full-desktop modes (and, especially on low-resolution QVGA devices, this will be the case most of the time), you will end up having to scroll a lot.

Traditionally, scrollbars have always been used by Windows Mobile applications to scroll (pan) around. They, however, do take a lot of precious screen estate, even with the well-known "thin scrollbar" registry hacks. This is why some (most importantly, three of the four web-based applications and PT PO) offers an alternative method of scrolling: tap-and-holding the screen on one of the four edges. Some other solutions (for example PT PO) offer "minimaps" and some others (the two Mochasoft apps) stylus-based quick (this solution is considerably faster than the tap-and-hold method) dragging. TSC, in addition to scrollbars, also offers five "quick positioning" icons on the command bar to quickly move to one of the corners or the center of the desktop.

Color depth: finally, the color depth. As can be seen, as far as RDP is concerned, TSC in PPC2k2…WM5 only supports 8-bit color depth; so does Mocha. Better VNC-based solutions and three of the four Web-based solutions also support better (with more colors) color depth modes; so does one of the most recommended titles, z2 RemotePC.

3. Verdict

As a very short, "executive" summary (not taking niceties like international character input into account - if you do need to input characters like them, do consult the chart very thoroughly to be able to find the best applications capable of this),

if you need the cheapest and easiest possible solution with a very flexible networking interface, go for LogMeIn Free. It behaved very nicely in almost every respect and, again, you can't beat the price.

If you're forced to use VNC (because, say, you've already installed a VNC server your desktop computer and don't want to install another one), go for PT PO (preferably with either UltraVNC or, even better, PTeSVNC as the server); it is a very solid and capable product

If you don't need through-firewalls functionality (or, alternatively, you're ready to configure the client to call back your client) and the higher bandwidth usage isn't a problem, z2 Remote PC will be one of your best friends: it has a LOT of additional, important niceties and is comparatively cheap

If you (also) need to access PIM stuff in your Outlook (Express), go for I'm InTouch. If you don't need the remote controller capabilities of the latter (because they're still a bit weaker than those of, say, LogMeIn), then, you will only need to pay $50 for the version that "only" supports accessing PIM stuff. Pair it with the LogMeIn Free (if you don't need file transfer) or LogMeIn Pro (if you do need file downloads from your desktop) and you have a killer combination for a still pretty low price.

If bandwidth usage is of paramount importance and not even PT PO's Tight mode is bandwidth-friendly enough and the high annual subscription price (and the lack of built-in file transfer on the Pocket PC) isn't a problem, give a try to Citrix's GoToMyPC.

Again and again, this short verdict should NOT be blindly obeyed. You should consult the comparison chart and, based on your requirements and the information there, decide for the remote controller application that best fits your needs. There are no all-in-one "best" applications; albeit, some of them are pretty close. Therefore, you must spend some time with the chart to make an optimal decision.

4. Final words

I know the article is pretty overwhelming for a novice. No matter how hard I've tried, I just haven't had the time to make it more beginner-friendly. What's more, the article is some 91 kbytes (without whitespaces) - including sections on the basics of networking would have resulted in its growing even more.

If you do not understand something, let me know - don't be afraid of posting your question (in public - please do NOT mail me in private because I'm already overloaded with private mails!), I will try my best to answer them. Please also make sure you also try to digest my networking-related articles (there are numerous of them; follow for example the links in my Multiplayer Gaming Bible and in the Web Browsers category of my Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine's Expert Blog).