NoMachine

NoMachine is a remote desktop tool, which means that it lets you use another computer over a network just as if you were sitting in front of it.

In this respect, it allows you not only to move the mouse pointer but also transfer any type of data, including audio and video contents. Moreover, it lets you use remote devices as if they were actually plugged to your PC or, reversely, use the remote computer to access local devices. Besides, you can record any type of activity on the remote machine’s screen.

The application has an excellent interface with the possibility of switching between two themes. To help minimize your efforts, most of the operations are done with the help of wizards. Still, it can be difficult to use by beginners, mostly because some technical knowledge is implied.

In order to connect two computers, the program should be running on both of them. After installing the software, it’s added to the startup list. So, it runs automatically with every session and is accessible through its icon in the System Tray. From there, you can visualize the status of the connection and transfer as well as use such tools as the whiteboard and the recording bar. Unfortunately, there’s no menu item to stop or pause the program.

When configuring a connection, there are two protocols available: NX, which is native to NoMachine and is optimized for multimedia transfer, and SSH, a widely used industry standard. If you’re concerned about the security of your data, there’s no reason to worry about, because this tool uses strong encryption algorithms to secure your connection.

All in all, NoMachine can come in handy for users who need to access, let’s say, their work computer from home, or vice versa. It can help network administrators, who are in constant need of working remotely. Moreover, it allows you share your desktop with other users. In this regard, I liked that it lets you use the remote computer without blocking desktop access. Data transfer is as fast as your network can support, with almost no lag time. However, some parts of the screen may get blurred at times until they are refreshed.