The workday doesn't end at 5 p.m. anymore. Chances are, you take files home with you to work on using your home PC, and then you tote them back to your office the next morning. In the course of shuttling files back and forth, you've likely run into a particularly frustrating snag at least once--the file you need the most is the one you forgot to bring along.
Remote pc tech services -access software can save the day. We looked at four services that promise to help you reach your PC's precious documents and programs, or share its functions with others, at any time. Two services, offer similar benefits: For a monthly fee you can take Remote pc tech services control of a configured computer from just about anywhere. Symantec's charges just one fee, and offers many IT-friendly features best suited to managing multiple machines in the same network. Finally, Microsoft's free application allows you to share views of your individual applications or your entire desktop with colleagues you invite, or even to permit other people to take control of your PC.
PC Anywhere
Symantec's is typically the favorite of IT departments in larger businesses, and setting it up can take a little techie know-how. But its one-time cost, as compared to the recurring monthly fee charged for services like could make it an attractive option for smaller companies and for on-the-go professionals.
A single license runs $200, and allows you to connect to one computer (the host) from another. (Both PCs must have the software installed.) Symantec offers volume pricing and other licensing options for large installations, and thin clients that allow for remote pc technical services-control connections without full administration options are available for Linux and Mac computers.
Once pcAnywhere is installed and set up, you can fire it up to connect to another computer. If that host is on the same network, it will be located in a 'Quick Connect' list.
If the host is not in the same network, you'll need to know its network name or IP address. In addition to a full remote pc technical services-control session, where you can see and control a host's desktop as if you were at the PC, you can choose to transfer files or perform remote-management tasks such as file or Registry edits without starting a full remote-control session. Many of the available features, such as setting up remote-command queues, are particularly useful for help-desk or IT users.
When you connect to a host, you see a prompt for a user name and password, both of which you choose when you first set up the host. You can select an existing Windows log-in, but you can't have a blank password. Also, though you can configure a host to set up an encrypted session every time or to switch to encryption during remote control, encryption isn't enabled by default.
pcAnywhere could prove effective for people who want to remotely manage many PCs in the same network, and it's a definite option for large networks with their own IT staff. But it's probably not the best package for connecting to one or two PCs at home or at work across the Internet, as it requires you to open a connection through your home or company firewall directly to the host. Business networks with many pcAnywhere hosts can set up a gateway server (at additional cost) that can act as an intermediary.
GoToMyPC
While pcAnywhere is best for connecting to multiple PCs in the same network, the Citrix service lets you easily connect to a host PC from just about anywhere. But you'll pay for the freedom, as GoToMyPC carries a monthly fee of $20 for one PC or $30 for two, with discounts for annual plans and additional PCs.
After performing a quick software install on a host PC, you can access that computer's desktop from most any other machine with a browser and an Internet connection. Though the software to set up a host requires that the host have at least Windows 2000 or a newer version of Windows, you can connect to that host from a Mac or Linux system, or even some Windows Mobile devices. Also, the host software makes its own connection to Citrix servers, so you don't need to open any firewalls or make any other adjustments. Just point your Java-enabled browser, on whatever PC or device you're using, to log in to your account at gotomypc.com.
Once there you'll see a list of your connected PCs. Choose one and enter its password (each PC gets its own), and a small Java client downloads through the browser and provides full remote control of the host. If you're using a PC that limits which programs you can run, such as a work computer with a strict security policy, you can use a universal viewer that runs completely within the browser. Mac and Linux computers also use the universal viewer.
You may notice a slight delay when you move windows around, but you won't have any trouble working with remote documents or using a Web browser on the host PC. Sound from the remote PC comes through fine, too. But full-screen video or other graphics-intensive tasks will be choppy at best.
To copy files to and from the host, you can drag and drop or use a separate file transfer and synchronization tool. And a simple slider allows for easily adjusting the display to favor either connection speed or appearance.
GoToMyPC uses encryption for all connections, and it allows you to print out a list of one-time passwords for each host. If you want to give other people access to your host PC, you can send a temporary e-mail invitation to share your desktop with a guest. The invitation automatically expires in your choice of 1 to 3 hours, or you can cancel it manually.
Though GoToMyPC isn't cheap, you can give it a whirl with a free 30-day trial for one PC. For businesses that want to provide the service for up to 50 employees, a Pro version offers central administration and billing. A Corporate version allows for more than 50 users.
LogMeIn Pro
LogMeIn Pro's remote-desktop service directly competes with GoToMyPC, and the two offerings are similar in most respects. But a fair bit less, with a monthly fee for one PC of $13. Each additional computer (up to ten) runs an additional $10, with discounts for each PC beyond ten. The service also provides a free trial for 30 days (or for 120 minutes of usage, whichever comes first). A no-cost, feature-limited version of the service, called LogMeIn Free, lacks options such as sound and remote printing.
You can install LogMeIn Pro on a PC running Windows Vista, XP, or 2000, or Windows Server 2003, 98, or Me. Macs with Tiger or Leopard can run LogMeIn Free, but not the Pro version. You can take remote control of a configured PC or Mac from almost any Windows, Mac, or Linux PC, or Pocket PC device.
Similar to the process with GoToMyPC, you start by logging in at logmein.com and choosing from a list of connected computers. But whereas GoToMyPC then launches a Java client outside the browser, LogMeIn runs within the browser, so first you'll need to install an ActiveX control for Internet Explorer or a plug-in for Firefox. You can skip the plug-in and use a less attractive Java interface instead, if you wish (either option allows a full-screen view).
Source : http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/146588/stay_connected_with_remoteaccess_software.html
