Control your computers from a distance
with LogMeIn.com
When people hear I used to work in IT they often ask if I’ll have a look at their computer, which has been playing up ever since they installed that free program they downloaded last week. “Yeh, OK” I say – knowing full well that I was a Java and COBOL programmer, and have no idea what Windows is up to under the hood – and heaven-help me if someone asked me to look at a *nix system like Linux or a Mac!
Having said that, many problems can be solved by working through logical steps… this is hard if you’re not physically at the person’s computer, as you can’t see what you’re doing over the phone. LogMeIn, however, gives you the ability to remotely control someone’s computer and work on it as if you were right there!
Setting up an account on LogMeIn.com is quick and easy, and setting up a new computer for remote access is as simple as logging into your account and clicking on “Add Computer”. The software is downloaded, and the computer then appears the list of machines you have available to you. There is a disadvantage, though: either you have to have been on the remote machine to install the software, or you have to give your friend access to your LogMeIn account and let them install it… personally, I wouldn’t be happy giving someone else my login details, so I’d have to go along and install the software myself, and I might as well fix their computer while I’m there!
I do have a use for this, though. I have it installed on my home Mac, and my work PC – and I can access them both from any computer with an Internet connection! OK, so I can’t actually download any files from them, but I can look at them on-screen, and can e-mail them to myself by controlling the e-mail app. It’s also great to see that this works equally well on Macs and PCs. There’s even a Firefox extension to make controlling your remote computers quicker (without the extension, you will have to use a Java applet).
LogMeIn is a simple, free way of controlling computers by remote. Whether it’s for support, a file you’re forgotten, or just to freak your friends out by moving their mouse pointer, it’s worth a look. It might just save your life one day… (no, not really).
Visit LogMeIn.com to sign up.
This “recycled” post has been resurrected for a number of reasons. Firstly, I’m at a conference and am unable to write a new article at the moment. But secondly, and perhaps more importantly, LogMeIn is still one of the few sites I use regularly, and one of the more useful tools available to me. If you haven’t checked it out already, do take a look.
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{ 2 comments }
I use Radmin to help my wife remotely when I`m in the office and she`s at home.
Thanks Denny – I haven’t come across Radmin before.
Anyone else got experience of using LogMeIn, Radmin, or any other remote control apps?
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