The iPad is truly a magical device with a great browser, the power of iTunes, and thousands of apps delivered with the App Store, but does it really replace a laptop? The answer for me is no. I tend to want ways of getting back to my desktop to access applications that are not available on the iPad (Excel, Garage Band, Etc), but how? Currently there are many different apps out there that act as a VNC (Virtual Network Computing) client, but in this review I will focus on two: iTeleport and LogMeIn Ignition.

In Short

iTeleport is an app that allows you control your computer using your Gmail account and iTeleport Connect – a small application that allows iTeleport to securely control your computer.

LogMeIn Ignition is an app that uses your LogMeIn Account (Free Membership Available) to access your computer with LogMeIn’s desktop application.

The Setup

For both iTeleport and LogMeIn Ignition it takes an email and a password as well as the downloading of the application that accompanies the app. For iTeleport that would be iTeleport Connect and for LogMeIn Ignition that would be LogMeIn both of which can easily downloaded from their developer’s website. iTeleport now requires the user to log in using a gmail account as well as set up encoding options and so forth while LogMeIn requires just your account email and password.

The Controls

These are two very similar applications as far as the UI is concerned – both have a single menu bar when viewing the desktop as well as a very simple settings page. Of course they do the usual pinch to zoom, two finger left click, yada yada yada. As for a surprising feature, iTeleport works with most of Apple’s trackpad shortcuts while LogMeIn does not.

Settings and Features

Rather than just rambling on about the two app’s setitngs pages, I have copied the options that both apps offer below:

LogMeIn Ignition

  • Color Quality
  • Resolution
  • Monitor (Choose to view a single monitor or multiple)
  • Network Speed
  • Blank Screen
  • Lock Keyboard
  • Scroll Mode
  • Shake Swaps Screen

iTeleport

  • Rotation Lock
  • Touchscreen Mode
  • Invert Mouse
  • Controls
  • Show Screen
  • Cursor Momentum
  • Colors
  • Refresh (rate)

Usability

Once setup there is little difference between the two apps.  Both have shortcuts for command, shift, etc., but iTeleport does go a bit further with an additional pop-up keyboard with F1-12, escape, delete, and even the media controls, making it a contender for a media center remote.

Conclusion

In the end I have found that LogMeIn provides a more flawless experience when compared to iTeleport solely because of reliability and the simplicity of logging in.  iTeleport’s setup requires more time and effort to perfect and feels a bit more rough when you use it away from home (using the Gmail setup). Having said that, iTeleport is a cheaper alternative.  Further, multiple features are missing in LogMeIn Ignition including the media controls and the touch pad gestures. LogMeIn Ignition costs 29.99 and iTeleport is 24.99. (Both work on iPhone and iPad)