LogMeIn
Have you been looking for a secure way of logging into a PC on your local network, on the road, in the airport, or from the basement? LogMeIn can be a free resource if you are just looking at a way to get information off your computer or check a file on your home PC. You just need a machine (PC, Mac, PocketPC) and an internet connection on both sides. When you set up your account, and login through their secure servers, you control your machine no matter where ever you may be. After researching multiple options, this one just made sense. We even signed up for an account before downloading the software...
We connected and installed LogMeIn in probably the laziest way possible...since one machine is an XP Home machine and lacks Remote Login, we sent a remote assistance request through Messenger earlier that day, and connected from our Vista machine...yes, the Vista machine...It worked, but wouldn't be practical on a continuous basis. So, once we took control of the machine, we opened up Firefox and navigated to the LogMeIn site...went straight to the download area and chose LogMeIn Free version. OK, so you can choose the Pro or IT versions if you need them, but if you are just using it to get personal files, stick with the free version. The others will be there if you change your mind at a later time.
The program installed within a brief time. It registered the computer to our account. We knew this because we had another Firefox window open on the Vista machine and just clicked the "Refresh" link and the PC showed online. We clicked on the machine and went through the login screens. Within moments, we were connected to the XP Home machine on the LogMeIn connection. The Messenger connection was quickly executed.
After going upstairs to deactivate remote assistance from the XP machine, we continued to navigate the XP machine from the Vista machine for about an hour. We tried as much as possible, using everything from Open Office to Microsoft Outlook, to Apple iTunes streaming to remote speakers. All seemed to work just as if we were on the machine itself.
Next came the true test...would it be as easy to connect from a Mac or PocketPC...? The answer is it was easier since everything was already set up. With one download to each device, the system worked just the same. So, OK, the pocketpc was a bit small, but it would definitely work in a bind if we needed to send a file to ourselves. And, yes, there is an and...the Mac (an older iBook G3) doesn't have a decent right-click function for some options...But, all in all, it works great! Others have posted elsewhere that Safari was not acting kindly with the interface, but we did not experience any challenges.
On a final note, you can even reboot the PC, log out, or shut it down from LogMeIn. You just have to wait for it to start-up and hit refresh when logged into the LogMeIn site. Once the machine is back up, you can login from the web page and you are off again. If you "support" other PC users, this could be a great way to help them out from where ever you may be. Life gets a little easier with products like this.
Enjoy...
We connected and installed LogMeIn in probably the laziest way possible...since one machine is an XP Home machine and lacks Remote Login, we sent a remote assistance request through Messenger earlier that day, and connected from our Vista machine...yes, the Vista machine...It worked, but wouldn't be practical on a continuous basis. So, once we took control of the machine, we opened up Firefox and navigated to the LogMeIn site...went straight to the download area and chose LogMeIn Free version. OK, so you can choose the Pro or IT versions if you need them, but if you are just using it to get personal files, stick with the free version. The others will be there if you change your mind at a later time.
The program installed within a brief time. It registered the computer to our account. We knew this because we had another Firefox window open on the Vista machine and just clicked the "Refresh" link and the PC showed online. We clicked on the machine and went through the login screens. Within moments, we were connected to the XP Home machine on the LogMeIn connection. The Messenger connection was quickly executed.
After going upstairs to deactivate remote assistance from the XP machine, we continued to navigate the XP machine from the Vista machine for about an hour. We tried as much as possible, using everything from Open Office to Microsoft Outlook, to Apple iTunes streaming to remote speakers. All seemed to work just as if we were on the machine itself.
Next came the true test...would it be as easy to connect from a Mac or PocketPC...? The answer is it was easier since everything was already set up. With one download to each device, the system worked just the same. So, OK, the pocketpc was a bit small, but it would definitely work in a bind if we needed to send a file to ourselves. And, yes, there is an and...the Mac (an older iBook G3) doesn't have a decent right-click function for some options...But, all in all, it works great! Others have posted elsewhere that Safari was not acting kindly with the interface, but we did not experience any challenges.
On a final note, you can even reboot the PC, log out, or shut it down from LogMeIn. You just have to wait for it to start-up and hit refresh when logged into the LogMeIn site. Once the machine is back up, you can login from the web page and you are off again. If you "support" other PC users, this could be a great way to help them out from where ever you may be. Life gets a little easier with products like this.
Enjoy...
Labels: LogMeIn, pc access, pc remote access, remote access
posted by John E. Murray, III at
9:24 PM
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