在之前的文章中，我已经为Windows 8.1用户测试了远程桌面(Remote Desktop)和TeamViewer Touch应用程序。它们在Windows 应用商店(Windows Store)中免费提供，它们都可用于从任何Windows 8.1平板电脑或混合设备与您的计算机建立远程桌面连接。但是这些应用程序中哪一个更好？为了帮助您，我决定发布这两个应用程序之间的简短比较。
继续阅读以了解哪些应用程序更适合您的远程连接需求。
您可以使用远程桌面应用程序做什么(Remote Desktop App)
您可以使用远程桌面(Remote Desktop)应用程序远程连接到运行各种Windows操作系统的计算机或设备：
- Windows XP 专业版
- Windows Vista 企业版
- Windows Vista 商业版
- Windows 7 企业版
- 视窗 7 专业版
- Windows 7旗舰版
- Windows 8 企业版
- 视窗 8 专业版
- Windows 8.1 企业版
- 视窗 8.1 专业版
远程桌面(Remote Desktop)应用程序还允许您使用正在连接的计算机的不同外围设备来执行在目标计算机或设备上运行的操作(target computer or device)。例如，当您在远程计算机或设备上工作时，您可以选择将打印机、剪贴板、智能卡或麦克风帽连接到您的设备(computer or device)。
您还可以选择在您连接的计算机(computer or device)或设备上播放来自目标计算机或设备(target computer or device)的音频。
此应用程序的上下文选项包括一个触摸指针(Touch pointer)按钮，可在远程连接中激活鼠标指针。(mouse pointer)您可以使用此指针查看远程设备或计算机中的(device or computer)鼠标光标(mouse cursor)。使用指针时，在数位板屏幕上滑动手指来控制指针，而不是您触摸的项目。例如，如果您想打开一个文件夹，您必须将指针移到该文件夹上。
重要提示(IMPORTANT)：仅当您在平板电脑上使用该应用程序时，触控指针(Touch pointer)和键盘选项才可用。(Keyboard)
为了更好地了解远程连接，您可以在主屏幕上启用最近桌面的缩略图并从中进行选择(home screen and select)。您还可以同时打开多个远程连接。
根据目标计算机或设备的(target computer or device)操作系统(operating system)，应用程序会显示特定的上下文选项。例如，当连接到Windows 8或 8.1计算机或设备(computer or device)时，您可以使用专用按钮来访问Windows 8开始(Start)屏幕、超级(Charms)按钮栏或正在运行的应用程序(running apps)的应用程序命令。
要了解有关使用远程桌面(Remote Desktop)应用程序的更多信息，请阅读我们的完整操作指南：如何使用适用于 Windows 8.1 的远程桌面(Windows 8.1)应用程序(Remote Desktop App)。
远程桌面应用程序(Remote Desktop App)不能做什么
远程桌面(Remote Desktop)应用程序允许您连接到已连接到本地网络或位于Internet 上(Internet)并具有公共IP 地址(IP address)的计算机或设备。否则，您将无法访问它们。
我在使用远程桌面(Remote Desktop)应用程序时发现的一个很大的缺点是您无法使用它来连接Linux 或 Mac OS 计算机(Linux or Mac OS computers)或设备。
我遇到的另一个问题是无法重命名远程连接和/或将它们保存在列表中以供进一步访问。在我看来，这个功能将极大地改善使用该应用程序的体验。
您可以使用TeamViewer Touch 应用程序做什么(TeamViewer Touch App)
与远程桌面(Remote Desktop)应用程序相比，TeamViewer的一个主要优势在于，TeamViewer提供了创建您自己的TeamViewer 帐户并向其注册(TeamViewer account and register)多台计算机或设备的可能性，这样您就可以从任何地方访问它们。这样，您只需登录您的帐户即可连接到本地网络或Internet上的计算机或设备。(Internet)要将计算机或设备添加到您的TeamViewer帐户，您需要使用桌面应用程序(desktop application)。
继续前进，TeamViewer Touch的下一个主要优势是能够连接到Windows、Linux 或 Mac OS 机器(Linux or Mac OS machines)，这要归功于每个平台的专用TeamViewer客户端。(TeamViewer)
重要提示：(IMPORTANT:)要连接到另一台(computer or device)运行TeamViewer Touch应用程序的计算机或设备，您需要将目标计算机或设备(target computer or device)添加到您的TeamViewer帐户，因为TeamViewer Touch不会生成合作伙伴 ID(partner ID)。
在应用程序的上下文选项中，可以在触摸或按下按钮时发送(touch or press)Ctrl+Alt+Del命令。
与远程桌面(Remote Desktop)类似，您还可以通过专用的上下文选项访问Windows 8 开始(Start)屏幕、超级按钮(Charms)栏或正在运行的应用程序的应用程序命令。(running apps)
要了解有关使用TeamViewer Touch应用程序的更多信息，请阅读完整的操作指南：如何使用适用于 Windows 8.1 的TeamViewer Touch(Windows 8.1)应用程序(TeamViewer Touch App)。
TeamViewer Touch 应用程序(TeamViewer Touch App)不能做什么
在测试TeamViewer Touch应用程序时，我了解到最大的缺点是您无法连接到未安装TeamViewer桌面应用程序的计算机或设备。(computer or device)
安装应用程序后，会生成一个合作伙伴 ID(partner ID)。这是一个九位数的代码(digit code)，任何拥有它的人都可以连接到该计算机或设备(computer or device)。当您不需要对目标计算机或设备(target computer or device)进行持续的远程访问时，此方法特别有用。例如，当您需要帮助朋友修理他的计算机并且您不想创建TeamViewer 帐户(TeamViewer account)时，您可以使用它。
与远程桌面(Remote Desktop)应用程序不同，此应用程序没有在远程屏幕上放大的选项，因此如果需要缩放，您必须使用目标计算机(target computer)上的放大镜(Magnifying Glass)。
TeamViewer Touch应用程序的另一个缺点是它不允许您选择与远程计算机或设备(computer or device)共享的设备，就像远程桌面(Remote Desktop)一样。
结论：TeamViewer Touch是更好的应用程序(Better App)
正如您从这篇对比文章中看到的那样，一个应用程序失败，另一个应用程序成功。尽管如此，TeamViewer Touch还是通过比远程桌面(Remote Desktop)更通用并支持Windows操作系统、Linux 和 Mac OS(Linux and Mac OS)来赢得“战斗” 。
添加TeamViewer帐户可让您将所有计算机或设备链接到它以便更轻松地访问这一事实，结论非常明确，因为这可以节省大量时间，尤其是在使用多台远程计算机时。
如果您只使用Windows设备，您可能会满意使用远程桌面(Remote Desktop)，但如果您需要访问Linux 或 Mac OS 设备(Linux or Mac OS devices)，那么TeamViewer Touch是您的最佳选择。
我们鼓励您测试这两个应用程序，看看哪一个更适合您的需求。不要犹豫，在下面的评论部分(comment section)分享您的意见。
The Remote Desktop App vs. TeamViewer Touch - Which is the Better App?
In previous articles I haνe tested thе Remote Desktop and TeamViewer Touch apps for Windows 8.1 users. They are available for free in the Windows Store and both of them can be used to make remote desktop connections to your computers, from any Windows 8.1 tablet or hybrid device. But which one of these apps is better? To help you out, I have decided to publish this brief comparison between the two apps.
Read on to learn which of these apps is better for your remote connectivity needs.
What You Can Do with the Remote Desktop App
You can use the Remote Desktop app to connect remotely to computers or devices running a reasonably wide range of Windows operating systems:
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows Vista Enterprise
- Windows Vista Business
- Windows 7 Enterprise
- Windows 7 Professional
- Windows 7 Ultimate
- Windows 8 Enterprise
- Windows 8 Pro
- Windows 8.1 Enterprise
- Windows 8.1 Pro
The Remote Desktop app also allows you to use the different peripherals of the computer you are connecting from for operations that are run on the target computer or device. For example, you can choose to use your printer, clipboard, smart card or the microphone hat are connected to your device while you are working on a remote computer or device.
You can also choose to play the audio from the target computer or device on the computer or device that you are connecting from.
This app's contextual options include a Touch pointer button that activates the mouse pointer while in a remote connection. You can use this pointer to see the mouse cursor in the remote device or computer. When using the pointer, gliding your finger on the tablet's screen controls the pointer, not the item that you touch. For example, if you want to open a folder, you have to move the pointer over that folder.
IMPORTANT: The Touch pointer and Keyboard options are available only if you are using the app on a tablet.
For a better overview of your remote connections, you can enable thumbnails of recent desktops on the home screen and select from them. You can also open multiple remote connections at the same time.
Depending on the operating system of the target computer or device, the app displays specific contextual options. For example, when connecting to a Windows 8 or 8.1 computer or device, you have dedicated buttons for accessing the Windows 8 Start screen, Charms bar, or the app commands for the running apps.
To learn more about using the Remote Desktop app, read our full how-to guide: How to Use the Remote Desktop App for Windows 8.1.
What you cannot do with the Remote Desktop App
The Remote Desktop app allows you to connect to computers or devices that are connected to your local network or are on the Internet and have a public IP address. Otherwise, you cannot access them.
A big disadvantage that I found while working with Remote Desktop app is that you cannot use it to connect to Linux or Mac OS computers or devices.
Another issue that I have come across is the inability to rename your remote connections and/or save them in a list for further access. This is a feature that, in my opinion, would greatly improve the experience of using the app.
What You Can Do with the TeamViewer Touch App
A major advantage over the Remote Desktop app is the fact that TeamViewer offers the possibility to create your own TeamViewer account and register multiple computers or devices to it, so that you can access them from anywhere. This way, you can connect to computers or devices that are either on your local network or on the Internet by simply logging in to your account. To add computers or devices to your TeamViewer account, you need to use the desktop application.
Moving on, the next big advantage of TeamViewer Touch is the ability to connect to Windows, Linux or Mac OS machines, thanks to the dedicated TeamViewer clients for each platform.
IMPORTANT:To connect to another computer or device running the TeamViewer Touch app, you need to add the target computer or device to your TeamViewer account, since TeamViewer Touch does not generate a partner ID.
Among the contextual options of the app, there's the possibility of sending a Ctrl+Alt+Del command at the touch or press of a button.
Similar to Remote Desktop, you can also access the Windows 8 Start screen, Charms bar, or the app commands for the running apps through dedicated contextual options.
To learn more about using the TeamViewer Touch app, read complete how-to guide: How to Use the TeamViewer Touch App for Windows 8.1.
What You Cannot Do with the TeamViewer Touch App
While testing the TeamViewer Touch app, I have learned that the biggest downside is the fact that you cannot connect to a computer or device that doesn't have the TeamViewer desktop application installed.
Upon installing the application, a partner ID is generated. This is a nine digit code that allows whoever has it to connect to that computer or device. This method is especially useful when you don't need constant remote access to the target computer or device. For instance, you could use it when you need to help a friend fix his computer and you don't want to create a TeamViewer account.
Unlike the Remote Desktop app, this one doesn't have the option to zoom in on the remote screen, so you will have to use the Magnifying Glass on the target computer if zooming is needed.
Another downside of the TeamViewer Touch app is the fact that it doesn't allow you to choose what devices to share with the remote computer or device, like Remote Desktop does.
Verdict: TeamViewer Touch is the Better App
As you can see from this comparative article, where one app fails, the other one succeeds. Still, TeamViewer Touch wins the "battle" by being a bit more versatile than Remote Desktop and supporting Windows operating systems, Linux and Mac OS.
Adding the fact that the TeamViewer account lets you link all of your computers or devices to it for easier access, the verdict is pretty clear, since this saves a lot of time, especially when working with multiple remote machines.
If you work only with Windows devices, you might be satisfied using Remote Desktop, but if you need access to Linux or Mac OS devices, then TeamViewer Touch is the way to go.
We encourage you to test the two apps and see which one fits your needs better. Don't hesitate to share your opinions in the comment section below.
