Edgy Technology: LogMeIn Makes “Anywhere” Possible

You can’t be everywhere at all times.  You can’t even always be in the one place that you most want to be at the time.

If you travel for business or pleasure and don’t want to haul around your desktop computer (or your big server with the demo on it), you could benefit from a remote desktop tool.

The concept is pretty simple.  You use the computer you have, to control the computer that has all the data that you want to be using.  (This is especially handy if you are like me and use and iPad as your primary computer.)

There are a million options for you to use.  You can create your own virtual private network (VPN) and “geek out” on sending command line scripts to have your remote computer jump through hoops… or you can use one of the off-the-shelf options that simplifies this process.

Here are a few:

• GoToMyPC [link]: Made by Citrix and probably the most popular paid application, but can run slowly on the Mac…
• Yuuguu [link]: Integrates nicely with Skype and other instant message platforms but lacks some polish and speed…
• TightVNC [link]: Very powerful, very technical solution.  Available for Mac, PC, and Linux and will be challenging for many non-technical users…
• TeamViewer [link]: Built primarily for teams working together so it can be cumbersome for quick interaction for a single user with multiple machines…

Here’s what I like — LogMeIn.

It starts with you going to www.LogMeIn.com and creating an account.  They have a wide range of products you can add if you want something more sophisticated.  But for me, the free “edgy” product they have is head-and-shoulders ahead of the other products like it on the market.

Once you have your account, all you need to do is install a tiny app on all the computers that ever want to have access to — and a quick Firefox extension.  For me that means, I have my 27″ iMac in my home office, my Dell laptop at the office (that I leave there), and my iPad all live on the same edgy technology.

When I want something from a computer that is “far away”, I just have to go to www.LogMeIn.com, sign in, click on the computer I want to control, and let the secure network point me in the right direction.

Cool, right?

Within a few seconds, I am staring (through my browser) at that particular computer screen.

You can do a lot of things, like:

• transfer files around,
• copy-and-paste data between computers,
• stream music from afar to my ears here,
• print a document locally that is on my other computer, OR
• control an PC application that wouldn’t run on my Mac (or vice versa)

Sure, there’s more you can do, but those are the primary shenanigans that most of us use edgy technology like this for.

There’s even some neat things that you can do too like wake up your computer if the screen saver has kicked in or the computer has gone into hibernate mode.  If you are inclined to be nerdy, the options are robust and provide you a dozen different ways to protect yourself.

It’s secure to get started with.  It’s safe and easy if you don’t want to have to worry about all the details.  And it can be an “edgy” lifesaver if you prefer to run around with the least possible number of gadgets in your pocket.  (After all, cargo pants aren’t the style in any more.)

Check it out for yourself.  And start saving more time with this edgy technology.