The Easiest Remote Control Program

Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:07PM EST

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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.

 

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  • 1 Posted by theliquidone on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Chris Null also did a great write-up. Very easy to use, I love this program. And it's free.... http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/null/11703;_ylt=Ao30U7ZGqw7oOU7CkTJ_CY0SLpA5

  • 2 Posted by iragersh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    I will not touch a PC before Logmein is loaded. It only works on Windows 2000 if the user has a password. You find many users do not have passwords. The key to this product and GoToMyPC are that they go through firewalls with no special configuration.

  • 3 Posted by jflagg1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    It *sounds* great, but what are the sucurity risks here? I've got *large* bells going off in my head about that.

  • 4 Posted by ytech_robinraskin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's password protected so I think it's as safe as any web-based application, but if anyone knows anything else please let us know. Interesting that I used another app this weekend, Hamachi, to transfer files on remote PCs, something that Logmein doesn't do.

  • 5 Posted by biohazard92penguin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    this is awsome i new there was something like that in this world, im looking forward to using this because of school, when u forget to bring your flash drive or forget to email it to your self... awsome

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