When MacBookPro is not enough

While the dual core MacBookPro is fast enough for web browsing etc, a nice QuadCore workstation with 8 gigs of RAM and a 3.5" HDD is much better for Java development.
It happened that we had a spare one I could use, but I didn't want it under my desk, so I don't hear it's power.

I decided to go for a VNC setup, looking for configuration that would provide as smooth experience as possible.
I came up with a set of requirements:
- I want the Linux desktop to sit on my secondary monitor without any extra bars, frames etc (fullscreen mode)
- I wanted my mouse cursor to be snappy enough so I don't feel it is remote - first of all no 'shadow' cursors chasing each other,
- keyboard should behave as if it was directly connected (or as close to that as possible)
- clipboard sharing would be a definite win

Picking the viewer

The first three were easy to meet - just download the (free) RealVNC viewer. (hint: download the Enterprise Edition for MacOS and install the free viewer only - it's the server you would need to pay for).
I really like RealVNC's fullscreen mode, low-intrusive keyboard handling and especially mouse pointer handling (in contrast to JollyFastVNC I tried before which is my second choice. The built-in MacOSX client is out of question - no fullscreen mode, shadow mouse cursor).

Clipboard sharing

Getting the clipboard sharing has cost me a few hairs off my beard, though.

You need to run the version 4 of VNC server (vnc4server on Ubuntu) with the vnc4config utility running.
Unfortunately, I run a x86_64 system that has this little problem.
I solved it by recompiling the package from sources, thanks to the hint by tomer t at the end of the bug report thread.

For the lazy - here is the deb package for you: vnc4server_4.1.1+xorg1.0.2-0ubuntu7_amd64.deb

Above VNC setup + some samba home folder sharing provide a really nice development environment I would never change for a noisy machine heating my desk, with separate clipboard, keyboard, mouse and monitor (although you may look for some synergy to solve the last deficiency ;-) )