The Easiest Remote Control Program

How many times have you wished that someone could take over the controls of your computer and drive for you when you found yourself in a pickle? How many times have you wished you could just access a file you needed on your PC even though you weren't near it? How many times has someone asked you to help them fix their PC and you've had to leave your comfy chair and head out to pay them a visit? These are the common reasons for wanting a remote control program, a program that lets one PC control another even though they might be across the globe from each other.

Historically, remote control programs like pcAnywhere have involved purchasing and loading hefty programs on each PC. Programs like GoToMyPC that use the Internet to connect were easier, but charge a monthly fee. The most flexible remote control program I've used is LogMeIn.com.

A web-based application, LogMeIn lets you take remote control of any Windows computer that's connected to the Internet. (Mac and Linux machines can be used to access target Windows machines, but cannot be accessed as targets; Pocket PC devices are supported, too.) The free version of the software lets you control an unlimited number of remote PCs; a pro version costs $12.95 a month and offers more features such as file synchronization.

To use the free version, you simply go to LogMeIn.com, download a small client on to each machine you want to access, and use a password to log into that machine. The free version of the program couldn't be simpler. You browse to LogMeIn.com, log in to your account, select the computer you want to connect to from your list, enter the password for that computer, and then you'll see the remote screen appear on yours.

It's been great to have my high-tech husband log on to my machine and take a look at something I'm having trouble with, and even better to log on to my parents' machine and help them out even though they're wintering 1,000 miles south of us. It's the first remote control software I haven't been afraid to use.

Other choices:

Chris Null looks at Microsoft's free remote program and FolderShare.