Five Best Remote Desktop Tools

Click to viewWhether you want quick access to your home computer from anywhere in the world or you're the go-to IT person for your friends and family, remote desktop applications are a godsend. Even better: They're easier than ever to set up. With the right remote desktop tool, you can access your home computer as though you're sitting right in front of it— no matter where you are, no matter what you're doing. Earlier this week we asked you to share your favorite remote desktop tools, and today we're back with the top five answers. Keep reading for a closer look at each solution, then cast your vote for the remote desktop solution you like best.

LogMeIn (Windows/Mac)

LogMeIn was one of the first popular remote desktop solutions aimed squarely at consumers, offering a quick, no-hassle set up to remotely control your computer from the comfort of any web browser. LogMeIn comes in a variety of flavors, but the two that are designed to satisfy your remote desktop needs are LogMeIn Pro and LogMeIn Free. A Pro account adds more features to the service, including drag-and-drop file transfer, file sync, and meeting tools. LogMeIn Pro isn't exactly cheap, at $13/month or $70/year, and while a Pro account offers more features than a free account, many users are still perfectly happy with LogMeIn Free.

TightVNC (Windows/Linux)

TightVNC is a cross-platform, open-source remote desktop application. With TightVNC, you need to set up a VNC server on the computer you wish to access remotely; you can then remotely access that computer from anywhere else with any VNC viewer. We've already detailed how to set up TightVNC on your home computer, and if you'd prefer controlling TightVNC from a web browser to carrying a VNC client with you, you can also control TightVNC from the web.

TeamViewer (Windows/Mac)

TeamViewer—like LogMeIn—offers free and paid accounts for remote controlling any PC. Unlike LogMeIn, TeamViewer is free for all non-commercial users. It doesn't offer browser-based remote control, instead using small utilities to connect between computers. TeamViewer is even available as a portable application you can carry around on your thumb drive. Whether you want to set up personal remote computing or you're pull frequent tech support duty, TeamViewer has a lot to offer.

Windows Remote Desktop Connection (Windows)

Windows Remote Desktop—the default remote desktop app that comes bundled with Windows—is still more than enough for most Windows users looking for full-featured remote desktop control. If you've never happened upon the Remote Desktop Connection application buried in the Accessories folder of your Start menu, now might be a good time to try it out. Just be sure you've enabled remote desktop access.

UltraVNC (Windows)

UltraVNC is an open-source, Windows-only remote desktop application. UltraVNC supports a hefty feature set, including text chat, file transfer support, and support for optional plug-ins. Although UltraVNC only runs on Windows, you can still access your computer from any operating system using your web browser.

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Now that you've seen the best, it's time to vote for your favorite:

Which Is the Best Remote Desktop Tool? (Poll Closed)

UltraVNC 16% (1238 votes)

Windows Remote Desktop Connection 24% (1918 votes)

TeamViewer 9% (692 votes)

TightVNC 14% (1154 votes)

LogMeIn 27% (2120 votes)

Other 11% (837 votes)

This week's honorable mentions go out toCrossLoop and mRemote. Whether or not your beloved remote desktop app made the top five, let's hear more about it in the comments.

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Company 401(k) Plans - The Dirty Secret

By Bruno J. Navarro | CNBC – Fri, Nov 23, 2012 2:26 PM EST

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One of the basics of retirement planning - contributing to a tax-deferred 401(k) plan - could come with a serious downside, "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer said Wednesday.

"However, as much as I like the tax-favored status of 401(k) plans and IRAs, I need to tell you something heretical, something almost nobody else will come out and say: Most company 401(k) plans stink," he said.

"They have high management fees and administrative costs that eat into your returns, and worst of all, they typically offer you lousy choices for your investments and not nearly enough control over them," Cramer added. "The 401(k) business is a racket for the managers who get to charge you these fees.

"Sometimes it feels like the whole 401(k) system was set up to benefit the financial services industry, not you. And given the way Washington works I wouldn't be surprised if that was actually the case."

Nevertheless, Cramer added, contributing to a 401(k) is still too good to pass up for its tax-blessed nature.

"Plus, many employers will match your 401(k) contributions, and I'm a big believer in not turning down free money," he said.

Cramer suggested funding a 401(k) until the company match limit is reached, and then stopping.

After that, he said, "the rest of your retirement investing should happen in your IRA until you hit the upper limit on what you're allowed to contribute in a given year."

The reason?

IRAs provide much more freedom.

Cramer suggested picking high-yielding dividend stocks that provide protection and generate income.

"But there are a couple of wrinkles that make investing in an IRA different from investing in a regular account," he added.

Cramer suggests being wary of master limited partnerships in an IRA because they're already tax-advantaged.

Their distributions are considered a return of capital, and an arcane tax rule could mean losing tax benefits by owning too many MLPs.

"The goal here is to be able to reinvest your dividends and let them compound year after year after year without paying any taxes until you withdraw your money at the very end, a terrific recipe for producing huge long-term returns."

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Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC

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