Earlier quoted context omitted.
> There's no good alternatives on Linux Maybe I misunderstand what this refers to but there are RDP software for Linux. I've used remmina [1] on Linux for a few years (now I am using VMWare Horizon at work). [1] https://remmina.org/
There are decent clients, but no decent rdp server software yet that I've found. That said krdp looks promising, but I haven't gotten it to work yet.
Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
41–50 of 68 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#42If OP need a faster machine for specific stuff like faster compilation times, I would suggest using it as a headless build machine. Browser sync wouldn't be needed.
Also what is that silly story about battery drain on ff?
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are decent clients, but no decent rdp server software yet that I've found. That said krdp looks promising, but I haven't gotten it to work yet.
What was the problem with Xrdp? I use it every day from both Windows and Linux clients and haven't had issues.
Also, IIRC, it didn't support seamless local vs remote sessions.
That is, if I started a session remotely, I couldn't resume it when I got back home. Or vice versa, if I started the RDP server on my logged-in session, I couldn't start a new session remotely in case the desktop rebooted (updates, power loss etc).
With Windows I just log in regardless.
Granted it's been a couple of years since I last took the rounds to evaluate the field, including Xrdp, so I'll give it another whirl soon.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are decent clients, but no decent rdp server software yet that I've found. That said krdp looks promising, but I haven't gotten it to work yet.
What was the problem with Xrdp? I use it every day from both Windows and Linux clients and haven't had issues.
On Windows I can log into a local session on my console. Then lock the screen and walk away.
On another machine anywhere on the planet, I can then log back into that same local session, and do a bunch of work. Locally, the screen remains locked and secure.
Then I can eventually walk back to that machine, and log back onto the local console and continue exactly where I was.
There is no performance penalty for this - my local session runs exactly as it normally does. The remote session is very fast and efficient.
There is no way that I know of on Linux to replicate this: you have to commit to either a session being "virtual" and running through remote desktop (x2go is the best at this) or "local", in which case you get a less performant screen-scraping session but worse while you're using the session remotely the screen is unlocked and visible and usable by anyone with local physical access (i.e. in a shared office perhaps).
It's a problem which should be treated as a massive, ongoing embarrassment for desktop linux, and a substantial impediment to any notion of wider enterprise adoption: I've been in office's where the standard way everyone worked was remote desktop'ing to their office PC workstation via a VPN and seamlessly going from remote to local sessions was a crucial part of the experience.
Really we probably just need to solve the screen lock problem: but getting the experience (i.e. resize, resolution and app sessions) working properly is also important.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#45I am not sure of the point of using both. A laptop is a desktop when sitting on a desk. If OP need a faster machine for specific stuff like faster compilation times, I would suggest using it as a headless build machine. Browser sync wouldn't be needed. Also what is that silly story about battery drain on ff?
The best sync is one you don't do at all!
If you're doing devops, I can't imagine you have a particular performance constraint that is tying you to a big desktop - like a requirement for a GPU, etc.
The current lineup of Mac laptops is fast. I have a M2 Pro work laptop and an AMD 5800X personal desktop. The laptop is faster at single threaded tasks and it's basically as fast if not slightly faster (depends on workload) for multithreaded tasks. Plus the Pro and Max laptops have reasonable external monitor connectivity.
And I'll also echo the parent poster and say that I haven't seen FF draining battery more than other browsers for a long time on macOS - I use it as my primary browser on my work laptop.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
What was the problem with Xrdp? I use it every day from both Windows and Linux clients and haven't had issues.
Xrdp can't give you a console interactive session. On Windows I can log into a local session on my console. Then lock the screen and walk away. On another machine anywhere on the planet, I can then log back into that same local session, and do a bunch of work. Locally, the screen remains locked and secure. Then I can eventually walk back to that machine, and log back onto the local console and continue exactly where…
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#47Use https://raindrop.io/ It's a wonderful (free) cross-device bookmark manager but ... you can save all open tabs in two clicks (click save icon and click "+ tabs"). It even automatically tags tabs w/ the date or you can save them with any collection and/or tags you choose. In addition, you can add notes, attach up to 100MB of files per month (on free plan). It runs on and syncs between Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome, Saf…
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#48Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#49I can choose to open one tab from there or all of them.
Works very well for me.
Re: Ask HN: How do you sync ongoing browser work between desktop and laptop?
#50Probably not going to be very useful to you, but since I use Windows I just use RDP to my desktop computer. This way I don't care about the laptop. Specs don't matter much, it can get stolen or scanned by border control without issue etc. I always pick up exactly where I left with zero hassle, don't have to install and configure tools twice etc, and it's virtually "native" feel unless I'm on some very dodgy cellular…
Works fine for me, I use it to host a number of applications as well as a few desktops. Access goes through a browser so as long as you have one of those it doesn't matter which platform you use for the client.