GoToMy PC ver PCAnywhere

Want to be able to access my computer in one state, while at my sister's in
another. Which of these 2 programs would be the better and easiest to use?
Or is there a better program? Does each computer have to have the same
program installed to do this?

 

PC Anywhere is a good program .

 

The problem with either is, you have to leave your main computer on all the
time, online.
Which makes it susceptible to attacks.
If you run a firewall, how ya gonna get past it?
Oh and then, is it on dialup, cable or dsl?
Does your ISP allow 24x7 online hooks?
If you're on dialup, what happens when the phone line goes dead? Then what?

Yes both machines must have the same software installed.

 

www.realvnc.com

I am using the beta Ver 4.0 (I prefer it to the other version offered) and
it is great... I have it set up on all my PC's on the LAN and any of the
PC's of frequent whiners who call me when they screw something up.

Just make sure you set up a very good password and fully prepare any
firewalls before trying to gain access remotely.

Setting up TCP on ports 5900 and 5800 on the firewall's NAT seems to do the
trick on routers and hardware firewalls and getting thru Sygate and Zone
alarm firewalls is a breeze.

Even allows you to send a 3 finger salute to the remote PC. It works better
than XP's Remote assistance program especially when the remote PC has a
louse upload bandwidth.

Best of all its free!

John

 

if your after simple file transfers then fileshare is excellent and it only
needs installing on one pc

roach

 

Here's soome information I collected when my boss asked me about that.
Some is an email from a friend who used it.

Hi Bill,

Yes, I used "gotomypc" but its not software that we bought.
It's an internet service.
We paid $ 200 for a one year contract for 3 separate users.
What we had to do, after Mike signed up, set up a user password for
all three computers, then Each of us had to go to our own computer at
the office, and log-in for the first time, assigning ourselves our own
log-in and password.
Now, if we intend to use this service, we can NOT turn off the
computer when we leave work This is OK with us because we never do in
the first place. We only turn off our monitors if anything.
Advantage is that not only can I then turn my computer at home into my
computer at work, but I can go ANYWHERE on ANYONE'S computer ( Jawwad
did this while on vacation in India recently) and as long as that
computer has Internet access, viola'.
You can also tell it to print, and it will print something ready and
waiting for you in the office when you return, or, you can tell it to
print to the one that that particular computer is hooked up to.
Another advantage is that of course you can access EVERYTHING as if
you were right there in the office.
The only problem is that it is slower, and, if you lose your network
connection at the office, then you are stuck. But, how often does
that happen?

PC Anywhere, we also have here in the office that is Software that you
need to purchase, and there is no other fee. We use that software to
work with our clients for supporting them, as this allows us to turn
our computer into theirs and access and or view their files / work at
the same time.
Disadvantages: Uses the telephone lines instead of the internet
(phone usage and fees). But, the worst thing is that you can only
turn other computers into your personal office one IF the computer you
are on, also has PC Anywhere software. Jawwad could not accomplish
that in India, nor on a cruise ship. ha-ha.

Hopes this helps...Oh, they allow you to try it for free for 30
minutes or something. Mike tried it first here in the office, then he
was at my house accessing his computer first before we actually bought
into their service.

---------------
Copied from several newsgroups and may be dated. I have no record of
the original source(s)
---------------

I'd like a less expensive solution that will allow me to temporary
access a computer over the web to control a computer. The problem
lies in the fact that I would have to change host PC every day. Is
there any product that will do what I want for 20-50$ a month?

************************************************

No, but there's a pretty darn good one for free -
http://www.tightvnc.com. It's not quite as fast as the commercial
alternatives, but it's pretty fast, and it's not as intrusive into the
machine's operating system fuctions as the commercial programs (i.e.,
it won't make your client's machine unbootable like PC Anywhere has
been known to do).

And you could put a half dozens copies of the client software program
on a floppy disk.
**************************************************

I have used VNC (normal and Tight), PcAnyWhere, LapLink and GoToMyPc.
But, at a recommendation of another consultant, I started to try
Remote Administrator for Windows (Radmin)... www.radmin.com
<http://www.radmin.com>.

The client side fits on a floppy disk, and can be installed via a copy
command. The server needs is slightly more intrusive, but much leaner
than PcAnyWhere. Several conclusions about Radmin.

(1) I will be registering for this product ($35 for two PCs).

(2) Radmin is much faster than VNC in remote access. The interface
takes seconds to learn. Very lean client. But I was not pleased when
scrolling Excel sheets (e.g. scroll a column off the screen and the
full screen needs to be repainted).
(3) PcAnyWhere had quicker remote access, especially in the 2 or 4
color mode. Over and internal LAN, the differenses between Radmin and
PcAnyWhere were small. Over my ADSL from Verizon (at the slowest rate
because of the distance from the switching station), the difference is
larger, especially in Excel (see above).

(4) Radmin has four modes: remote access, remote access for viewing
only, file transfer (very fast, seems like it only transfers the parts
that have changed like LapLink and PcAnyWhere), and a telnet (e.g.
limited DOS windows for NT/2000 only). VNC does not have file
transfer.

(5) Radmin has limited security options. One password per server.

(6) It is easy to configure the port for Radmin, as is VNC, for
operating in NAT environments. PcAnyWhere needs registry tweaking.
GotoMyPC has the edge here, since it does not require the IP/Port
mappings in a NAT environment. If you are operating the server
station in NAT environment, and are not able to configure your router,
GotoMyPc is the only answer with these remote access programs.

(7) Only VNC supports Linux. Radmin is pure Windows.
(8) VNC can operate with no client software using a browser that
supports Java. But for this, if you are operating behind a router
using NAT, the router needs additional port / IP addressing.

I like the licensing of VNC, the security and remote access speed of
PcAnyWhere, but the price/performance/ease of installation of Radmin
is the best.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peek Into Your PC From Anywhere Stephanie Bruzzese From the May 2001
issue of PC World magazine Posted Wednesday, March 28, 2001 On the
road--and missing an important file left behind on your office system?
With remote PC-access software, you can quickly save the day. New
entrants in this category include the Web-based *GoToMyPC* from
Expertcity and an updated version of the long-standing *PCAnywhere*
from Symantec. *GoToMyPC's* simplicity makes a better fit for newbies
who need to access less-sensitive data, while
*PCAnywhere* 10's complex user interface and features speak to tech
buffs and IT managers.

In my tests, remote file and application transfers worked well with
both programs but didn't execute as quickly as if I were working on
the remote PCs themselves. Both are supposed to be compatible with
Windows 9x, NT, 2000, and Millennium.

Using a beta of *GoToMyPC*, I quickly established an account at
Expertcity's Web site, filled a blank window with a nickname for the
computer I wanted to access, and clicked the Add Computer button.
After a few more clicks, that nickname appeared in my account window.
To gain remote access to the first PC, I went to another system with
Web access, logged in to my *GoToMyPC* account, and clicked the
Connect button next to my desired PC's nickname. That system's
desktop popped up moments later.

I also easily installed a shipping copy of *PCAnywhere* on my remote
system, clicked the Remote button, and right-clicked the icon to
indicate the type of connection I used. Multiple tabs then appeared,
through which I could set connection information, security options,
item protection, and more. I also made additional choices, including
the Internet protocol address of the host and automatic shutdown after
my session. I then repeated the same process on the host computer,
creating a successful connection.

This version of *PCAnywhere* boasts a number of new features. Among
them are security enhancements, such as a remote-access perimeter
scanner that scans network and telephone lines for unprotected
systems; a Packager tool that enables more-flexible installs; and
file-transfer enhancements, including a list of directories accessed
previously.

The simple *GoToMyPC* Web interface will charm new users, but its
security may make IT managers uneasy. The *GoToMyPC* desktop app
handles firewalls by periodically checking with *GoToMyPC's* servers
to see if a user is trying to log in. But while providing 128-bit
encryption of data streams and SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption,
*GoToMyPC* lacks *PCAnywhere's* extra security features, such as the
ability to limit log-in attempts and restart the remote system. Of
course, both programs require that the remote PC be left on, and both
help protect against intruders--*GoToMyPC* by locking the host's
keyboard, *PCAnywhere*
with passwords.

Individuals should find *GoToMyPC* a handy way to retrieve forgotten
files; the beta version is free until May 1. Enterprises may feel
more comfortable using hyper-security-sensitive *PCAnywhere* 10, which
costs $180 (discounts for multiple units).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anybody have pro/con comments on www.gotomypc.com? I actually
installed it on my desktop and was amazed how easy (and fast) it
performed. I am accessing my work computer from my home. My home is
a dynamic cable modem, my work is a dynamic dsl connection.

For those of you who do not have experience with gotomypc, it acts
like PCAnywhere but you are accessing the remote computer with your
browser. Now, I save long distance charges compared to my dial-up
PCAnywhere. Also, this is fater than my PCAnywhere (dial-up)
connection.

Catch? About $19.95 a month charge ($14 something if you pay year in
advance).

When I did a groups.google.com search for gotomypc, there were some
comments about security. There was a posting to indicate that there
are alternatives that are cheaper or free, I have not explored these.
Besides, I don't know if these other alternatives can handle the
dynamic IP of my connection(s) plus the fact that I am behind a
Linksys router on both ends.

*********************************************

That one works via the web. However, you can also use AT&T's free
VNC.

It can be found at:

http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/ However, there is even a better
version at:

http://www.tightvnc.com/ The client software for vnc can fit on a
floppy disk, and does NOT even need to be installed. You can thus get
to your desk top from any web enabled pc.
(you just carry the floppy disk!).

It will not work at those internet kiosks as the air port, as many
don't have a floppy disk, or allow software to be run from a floppy
disk (if they do!, then you can use vnc). However, if you just need
to access your pc remotely, and are looking for a 100% free solution,
then VNC should be check out.

Vnc has been around for years..and I use it for many of my clients
(several times a week in fact). As mentioned, I suggest that you use
tightVnc.

Of course, if you are running win2000 server edition, or window XP,
then remote support is built in. You don't need any software on the
host side.
This is based on windows terminal server (that was bough from the
Citrix folks). This is a *true* api over the net. Thus, it runs
absolute circles around stuff like vnc, or pc-anywhere, or GoToMyPc.
Those programs send graphics down the wire...where as Terminal Server
sends only api *commands*.

It certainly makes sense that all computers can be accessed anywhere
and anytime. As mentioned, XP now this feature built in.

If you have a choice, you want to use the windows TS stuff, as is many
times better than the other solutions. However, if you don't have
win2000, or XP, then the tightVNC is a great way to go (it is a free
open source program).

 

Yes, PC Anywhere is good, so is RemotePC and Gotomypc.
We use RemotePC ((http://www.ibackup.com/remote_access/) in our office
and we are pretty impressed with the speed and security that they
provide. You will be able to remotely access different remote resources
through an Internet connection and across several Windows platforms. It
also works behind most firewalls without any special port settings
making remote access simpler.

Cheers
Marcie Hill

 

Both are good. Another alternative which you may try out is GoSupportNow. It is easy to use and works flawlessly on MAC and Windows computers.

 

Have you tried Teamviewer?