Join CNET.com.au: Receive free newsletters, post to forums and win prizes. Sign up now!

Updated: Work from home (or anywhere): four remote access options

By Robert Vamosi on 09 March 2006

Tags: 3am | access | citrix | everywhere | gotomypc | labs | laplink | logmein | mywebex pc | remote

Four very handy services that allow you to remotely access your work (or home) PC anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Recently, I've started working from home in the early mornings. This allows me to check my e-mail, juggle appointments, and even work through a quick edit of a review before taking a train to work. To do so, I tried out the four services you see listed below.

GoToMyPC is useful if you have a Mac or Linux machine and want to connect to your Windows PC at work. Laplink Everywhere also lets you work from a variety of operating system platforms. Unfortunately, both GoToMyPC and Laplink Everywhere require monthly or annual subscriptions and Laplink Everywhere does not offer true colour representations, so the office desktop graphics and images looked blocky or surreal on my home PC.

To truly experience your work PC from afar, you need either GoToMyPC, PCNow, or LogMeIn. Back when it was still offered for free, PCNow wasn't very reliable; now that it's been rebranded and requires a monthly subscription fee, I suspect reliability won't be a problem. I've never had a problem logging in with LogMeIn, and its service is still offered for free. You can't do file transfers or remote printing without paying, but for checking my e-mail, juggling appointments, and even editing reviews, I've come to rely on LogMeIn. If really you need to work remotely, however, then we recommend a subscription to GoToMyPC 5.0

Last updated: March 8th, 2006.

GoToMyPC 4.1
GoToMyPC 5
Read review





GoToMyPC 5

Easy to use, powerful, and secure, GoToMyPC is the best-known remote access solution for corporate customers, although it's very pricey for individual users.

Click here to read the review.
LogMeIn
LogMeIn
Read review





LogMeIn

LogMeIn's excellent features and performance, not to mention its free service, rank it at the top of remote access solutions.

Click here to read the review.
MyWebEx PC
MyWebEx PC
Read review





MyWebEx PC

MyWebEx PC offers powerful remote-access features for free, plus some extra capabilities for a low monthly subscription, making it a great solution for telecommuters.

Click here to read the review.
Laplink Everywhere 4.0
Laplink Everywhere 4.0
Read review





Laplink Everywhere 4.0

Laplink Everywhere 4.0 remote-desktop software offers multiplatform support and flexible file transfers but lacks true-color support and single-use passwords.

Click here to read the review.

Be the first to comment on this article!

  • Leave a comment

All fields marked with * are required

What do you think

Your e-mail will not be displayed

You must read and type the 6 chars within 0..9 and A..F

You must read and type the 6 chars.


  • News

  • Features

  • Oi!

  • Must read

  • Apple's MobileMe to be relaunched

  • Memeo launches Share for sending photos to grandma

  • Do browsers need a 'best-before' date?

  • Free Speed: Make your Mac faster

  • Yahoo Go! hits 3.0

  • Powerhouse adds photos to Flickr Commons

  • New geotagging method draws on Flickr photos

  • Firefox 3: New front in the browser war

  • Bring thumbnails to life with SnapCasa

More news »

Find the right software

Brand
  • Multiple options can be selected

    The Explain Series

    • MobileMe

      MobileMe

      MobileMe is the successor to .Mac, Apple's subscription service for publishing photos and other personal content to the Web.

    • Firefox 3

      Firefox 3

      If only for the speed, lightness of being and security alone, Firefox remains our Editors' Choice for best internet browser.

    • Opera 9.5

      Opera 9.5

      Long considered a cult favourite, Opera 9.5 for Windows and Mac has introduced some compelling improvements to security, speed and synchronisation — yes, syncing in a browser!— is there enough here to make you a convert?

    • Nokia Music Store

      Nokia Music Store

      If you can access the Nokia Music Store then we think it's worth a look; but Nokia isn't making it easy.

    • Adobe Media Player 1.0

      Adobe Media Player 1.0

      Adobe's Media Player is an excellent application that is beautifully designed and easy to use. Shame about the currently available content.

    More reviews »

    Membership benefits

    Manage and receive subscriptions

    Manage and receive subscriptions

    Choose to receive an e-mail update containing our best articles either daily, weekly or monthly. Sign up for a free CNET.com.au membership now!