Looking for a cross-platform remote tool

Any one know of a tool that does the following:

1. Allows a PC (host) to control a Mac (client)
2. Is very easy to use by an end user (especially on the client side)
3. Is inexpensive/free
4. Has to be able to work through firewalls and other security measures you see in a home office
We are seeing more users with Macs and I’m interested in finding a tool that works through the cloud that is very easy to use by them. Everything at the shop is running Windows, but if there is a great Mac to Mac tool, I’d be interested in learning more as well.

Disk Storage

Anyone have any insight into inexpensive but plentiful storage systems?

I’m finally at the point where it’s time to start re-ripping my CD collection into some lossless format. My estimates are that it will take between about 700-750G to hold the whole thing. I need to keep one copy at home and on-line for the home-audio system, and I’d like it to be network attached. Hopefully it’s reasonably priced so I can afford a second one as the project goes forward to have some kind of off-site backup.

I’ve looked at the Drobo, and really like the idea, but it’s USB only and costs $500 for the empty cabinet, then you still have to add drives.

Western Digital’s MyBook World II Edition looks pretty good, with gig-ethernet, compact size, and decent price (about $300 right now from buy.com for the 1T model w/ 2x500G drives). Although that assumes you stripe the included drives to get the 1T, which means a drive failure takes out the entire collection, making a second unit for off-site storage far more important.

LaCie has a similar product (to the WD MyBook) for about $450 via buy.com, but USB 2.0, no network. Same problems with the redundancy part.

There’s also Hammer Storage, who has a 2T unit with network support (2x1T drives) for about $650. Price is higher and the unit is larger, so that makes off-site a bit more difficult.
Anyone else have any thoughts or suggestions?

Novemberfest

I say if October can have its own festival, one devoted to the consumption of beer, November should have one too! Sure, there’s always Thanksgiving, but the early part of the month is just sitting there so forlorn.

Therefore I propose Novemberfest, a festival devoted to the consumption of Strawberry Lemonade! Come celebrate with us and partake in the wonder that is early November!

  • Geek Gather
  • 6:30pm
  • Tuesday 2007.11.13
  • Chatterbox Cafe, Saint Paul, MN

If someone needs directions, there’s always Google Maps or shoot me an email and I’ll do my best to get you there.