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Windows web desktop
A couple of years back I read about a beta service offering a Windows desktop in a web browser. Does anyone know what it was called, or if there's anything similar? It's for those times I need Windows or a fast connection to shift files around etc.
Occasional usage, nothing dodgy but a low budget 
Comments
I know OnLive had some sort of Windows desktop in the cloud. I don't remember if it was in the web browser, or a standalone app. Otherwise a KVM VPS with a web based KVM client might get the job done.
How about RDP hosting ?
http://giga-rdp.in
http://www.urpad.net/windows-rdp.shtml
It could have been some VNC. I dont recall anything of the kind. There are a few RDP services I think I saw, but did never look a second time to those.
Edit: imperio beat me to it
rdp hosting is generally terrible, overloaded OVH machines sold on wjunction for warez encoding/uploading
I have a KVM machine with OpenITC that I use with RDP. I sometimes forget it's not my local PC because the performance is so good. I also have ThinRDP installed to access RDP in a regular browser for connections that use http proxy only (like at work).
Looks good but nothing for Mac unfortunately.
Haven't tried it but got a feeling a lot of it is. Does anyone know of any quality providers of RDP hosting?
A good quality rdp host would be a windows vps host. rdp hosting just is bad, like anything advertising itself as "offshore hosting" probably would be. i'm also 90% sure the only "security" they have is giving people non-administrator accounts on windows
Look what I found!
Ok, where can I get a very cheap Windows VPS in the EU? Burst has one for £5/month.. Not sure if anyone's tried that.
Why does he advertise in his site description that he uses desktop hardware?
But dude your gonna miss out on Autoboot™ and all the other cool Auto™ features. You know you want to :P
/troll
We are a Microsoft partner, so we can offer any licenses you may need on our KVM line. Will be out of LEB pricing though of course, give me a shout if your interested.
How far out of LEB pricing?
Well.. Windows server standard is £10.36/month on its own (That's the cost we get them at). Then we're talking $7 for our latest 1GB KVM deal.
Couldn't you use windows trial version and reinstall the vps every month?
Dreamspark might be a better idea actually - not paying £10/month for a licence for this unfortunately.
EDIT: Actually just remembered I've got a Win 8 licence somewhere.
I remember the exact service you are talking about it. I had an account with it and tried it a while back (couple of years ago). If only I could remember what it was called....
http://app.cloudinternetexplorer.com/
What about "cloud servers"? I mean like with Azure or EC2, you could quickly fire up a Windows instance when you need it, and get it shut when you don't.
Nearly ideal. Only problem is you have to reinstall your stuff every time you fire one up (or pay storage and wait?).
Sounds familiar. Let's see if I can find it.
http://gigaom.com/2013/01/25/want-to-run-windows-through-an-html5-browser-mikogo-has-you-covered/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/spoon-runs-windows-desktop-applications-browser/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_desktop
Nothing quite looks like what I recall, which I think is the same thing you're recalling. Oh well.
http://www.nivio.com
That's it! I'm almost certain of it.
@jhadley
Why not use a ubuntu desktop etc?
Name rings a bell, cheers bud. Will check it out!
Not sure what's compatible and what isn't. E.g. today I needed to use Supermicro's IPMI which doesn't work well on my Mac, so guessing it's probably only built for Windows.
Windows 2003 runs just well enough on a ramnode 256mb KVM to get the job done. I shut it down when I'm done because I'm not enough of a jerk to push the 256mb VPS that much, but it works
2008RC2 works here in 512 enough to host another VM with linux inside, do multi-tabbed browsing with flash, openoffice, gimp and adobe reader all in the same time.
So, why would you need more ? We are out of stock but can do one exception for you at 7$. Licensed, of course.
Don't know if those would work or be in a suitable price range with that requirement
http://www.lowendtalk.com/discussion/157/windows-vps-by-hourly-rate
since for +1 GB ram and a decent CPU it becomes not too cheap afaik.
Probably he really think this is the something top-notch for servers
@jhadley
I do something similar to you with a Kimsufi, just load it up with a dreamspark licence and you're good to go.
That's probably one of your cheapest options available.
How do you get windows up there?
iirc, OVH does not allow to have your own iso installed.
I'd love to have a remote Windows machine as desktop, too.
@Shigawire. Just add your windows licence key to the licences area of the OVH manager then re-install to the correct version. Simple!