Use LogMeIn to Manage Computers and Your Time
May 21, 2009 by Jason Bean
Filed under Computers
I end up doing quite a bit of computer support for a variety of people throughout my day, weeks and months on an ongoing basis. There’s the normal PC support for clients with my day job, but then after hours I’m also supporting clients from some of my moonlighting gigs as well as the computers for friends and family.
I enjoy being helpful for people, but saying yes to being helpful takes you away from home where you’d probably rather be anyway. One of the truths of supporting some people’s computers is that some of the steps required are time consuming, but not attention intensive. You start a process and let the computer or application do what it does. You don’t need to watch it.
Using LogMeIn, I can now connect remotely to client machines and provide security support and maintenance for items like scanning for viruses, malware, defragging, troubleshooting and other tasks; all from the comfort of my own home. As I’m doing right now sitting on my couch, watching Animal Planet, blogging and running a scan on a computer at our church. Very helpful.
Another nice feature of LogMeInis that the remote user can be watching what I’m doing at the same time. With the case of supporting family members, I can login to my dad’s computer and show him how (or remind him) to do a certain task with his file management or using a program.
LogMeInprovides all the features I’ve mentioned above all for the amazing low, low price of… FREE! There are other premium versions you can purchase to provide more functions, but for what I need and for my budget, the FREE version is accomplishing the task set out before it. To be HELPFUL!
of course you if you suspect some kind of infection on a machine you should typically disconnect it from the network and do all scanning offline.
Does LogMeIn require setup on the client? is it always running? I’ll have to check it out. Personally I want to use GoToAssist Express, however I don’t want to pay for it!
Also, do you know how it works with Multiple Monitors on the remote side?
I also suggest consideringTechinline Remote Desktop (http://www.techinline.com) Probably the easiest connection process out there, and a fraction of what LogMeIn Rescue costs. I’ve used it for well over a year, and it’s a great service
You’re right, disconnecting it from an Internet or network is key. The challenge was getting the most recent copy of antivirus files updated and installed as quickly within the window as possible.
LogMeIn requires a small download for client access for the free version. One of the premium versions allows for connection with no client installation of any files.
LogMeIn handles multiple monitors fine. The only challenge is a standard challenge of knowing when an application opens in a monitor not in focus. LogMeIn can actually combine the view of both monitors to the admin desktop view though.
For being free, I haven’t seen anything that works as well or with as much ease and features as LogMeIn.
Hi,
have you ever heard about TeamViewer? TeamViewer is a remote control and desktop sharing solution of the TeamViewer GmbH in Germany (http://www.teamviewer.com). TeamViewer establishes connections to any PC or server all around the world within just a few seconds. You can remote control a partners desktop to give online assistance, or you can show your screen to a customer – all without worrying about firewalls, IP addresses and NAT. TeamViewer also has a lot of other features. All this is free for personal use. Find out why more than 15.000.000 users trust TeamViewer!
All the best,
Jasmin
TeamViewer GmbH Germany