LogMeIn

Wow.

When I was looking up the links to do my last entry, I got to looking at the LogMeIn website a little closer. I found that they had a free version of their remote control program. As you recall, I was a little disappointed in GenControl because of its slow refresh. I was hoping that the LogMeIn product would be an improvement in that area.

Before I headed home for the day, I signed up on the LogMeIn website and ran a quick installation on my work computer (XP Pro, in case you wondered). My first opportunity at home found me on my laptop to see if the remote desktop experience was any better with LogMeIn. Let me tell you, I am not going back to GenControl!

Accessing my work computer from home was as simple as logging in to the LogMeIn site and choosing my work computer from the list of computers available to me (if you can call a single computer a list). LogMeIn recognized that I was using Firefox and recommended an extension to install. That one time install took all of 30 seconds (tops) and then I was accessing my work computer.

First, the refresh is many times faster than GenControl over Hamachi. You don't need the Hamachi client so you don't get that overhead. Also, you're not using VNC so there is improvement there. (VNC has never seemed particularly quick to me.)

After being pleasantly surprised by the speed, I was blown away by the features. I have a dual-monitor configuration at work. With GenControl, I could only see my primary monitor. That's easy enough to work around, but LogMeIn allows me to pan so that I can see both monitors. I can also use Y'z Dock and Dexpot remotely, neither of which worked with GenControl. LogMeIn allows me to set whether I want the remote computer to lock automatically when I disconnect, whether I want the remote screen to blank while I am connected and whether I want the remote keyboard and mouse to lock while I'm connected. I was also able to magnify the screen or shrink it.

Like with their Hamachi product, LogMeIn sells versions of their remote control software. I assume that you get more features than the Free version offers but I haven't looked into those yet. Right now, Free fits my budget and does exactly the job I need. Thank you LogMeIn.