Issue 27.11
My son is watching the words I am typing as they “magically” appear on my home computer screen. I am not there. I am sitting in a hotel room in another state, typing this article on my home computer via my laptop using a program that is not installed on my laptop and with full ability to reference all my files and resources on my home computer. It sounds a little like science fiction, but I and many others do it all the time.
The key part of this experience is a remote computer access program. There are many of them available. You have probably heard of the “Go-To-Meeting” or “Go-To-My-PC” programs which are very good and are advertised heavily. There is a monthly fee for using them (as there are for most of these type programs).
I am using one called “Team Viewer” which is free for non-commercial use such as accessing your home computer from the road. They also have a fee schedule for commercial use (such as businesses having their employees log in to the office computers from wherever they happen to be.) I find it easy to use, and did I mention it is free?
As long as I have a good high speed connection there is very little lag (delays in seeing what you are telling the remote computer to do) and typing this article is almost the same experience I would have if I were at my desk. I only notice problems with manipulating graphics or other large files or doing highlighting of large sections of things I am writing. And even then, the delay is brief.
Two of the other possible uses of this type of program are to repair someone else’s computer by logging into it and making software changes (sorry, this won’t work for hardware problems) and collaborating on projects, documents, graphic edits, etc. When a change or addition to a project is made on either computer, it shows up on both screens in real time.
Using this type of program requires installing the software on both computers (downloadable from www.teamviewer.com), starting the program on the home computer before you leave and writing down the ID number and password. Then, when you are on the road, you start the program on your travel computer, type in the ID and password and – voila! – you are connected with the home computer. It opens up a window which shows exactly what is on your home screen and works just as though you were sitting at your desk at home.
It has been a great time saver and convenience for me and I hope that, if you need it, it will help you too. As always, remember to make sure you have a backup of anything important.
Shaun McCausland has been in the computer industry for 30 years (locally with Musicomp & Bits ‘N’ Bytes) and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions, you can reach him through his website at www.bitsnbytescomputers.com or at 668-7118.