If you run a small home network like me, you will probably utilise some sort of remote desktop software (I use VNC) to remotely control computers. Desktop on Demand is based on the same principle, in a way at least, allowing you to connect to a remote virtual desktop where you can play games, listen to music, check email, browse the web, word process, etc.

Desktop on Demand is a service launched by the same people who launched remote file storage tool Ewedrive. It allows you to access a remote GNOME Linux desktop where you can do many functions you could do on a local PC, such as use office software or The GIMP, and even install libraries!

Desktop on Demand is lightning fast and it truly feels like I am controlling a PC over my LAN. Unlike my LAN, it utilises the NX protocol instead of VNC. The provided NX client is much more suitable than any VNC one as you don’t need to fiddle with IP addresses etc. If I’m not mistaken, NX sends X11 sessions down a SSH connection.

All you need to be able to run Desktop on Demand is the ability to run binaries (you don’t have to install them) on your Windows, Linux or Mac computer. I think a web-interface would be useful though, especially when running behind restrictive networks!

You can access the files on your Desktop on Demand account through several ways. Obviously, through the desktop itself but you can also access them through a web-base file manager or a WebDAV share.

The idea of a remote desktop on demand isn’t anything new. I reviewed CosmoPOD, who provide free KDE desktops, back in 2005 before the wave of Web OSes we have today (services like Desktop on Demand and CosmoPOD are more useful than a Web OS because at least it ‘feels’ like an actual desktop rather than a Flash app etc!).

Desktop on Demand is free but a reasonable package costs between £4 and £15 a month depending on which features you need and how much storage you require. £6 a month will land you essentials such as Firefox and 25GB of disk space!

Tags: desktop on demand, remote desktop, web os