BIOS: Technology Means Business

Laplink Everywhere 4 is remote control-based software that allows you access your main computer from other Web-enabled devices (the software only needs to be installed on your main computer). Using a secure Web interface, you can connect to a remote Windows-based PC quickly using a low-bandwidth connection from Windows, Mac, or Linux-based computers and from Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian-based devices - through firewalls and routers, with no special configuration needed.

Being able to access your main computer from another device is great for running applications and accessing files you don’t have with you, including e-mails, even if your PCs or network resources are located a world apart. For example, if you work on an Excel spreadsheet over the weekend and forget to bring a copy to the office, you may have a problem. Not any more!

Unlike ‘ordinary’ browser-based remote control applications, such as the excellent but more expensive GoToMyPC (£9.95 per month), Laplink Everywhere 4 offers both remote control and remote access to files, e-mail (Outlook or Outlook Express), calendar, contacts, notes, tasks, and Internet favourites (IE only). Plus, the integration with Google Desktop Search provides a fast method to locate remote files and e-mails from any Web-enabled device without launching a remote control session.

Laplink Everywhere provides pretty much everything needed to access a remote PC from a Web-enabled device. And while it offers remote desktop control capabilities (built on top of Microsoft’s RDP protocol), its true strengths are remote access. Remote control, a la GoToMyPC, is ideal if you need that sort of capability, but many users simply want to be check their appointments in Outlook, find information about a contact, or view or download a file from a designated computer.

Laplink Everywhere allows you to perform tasks such as these not only from another computer, but from Web-enabled PDAs and smartphones as well. It even works with the Palm, Windows CE, Windows Mobile, and Symbian operating systems. To access a computer remotely you simply log onto the Laplink Everywhere secure Web site and enter your user name and password. You’re then presented with a main page offering a series of functions: Remote Control, File Transfer, Utilities, and E-mail & PIM.

When it comes to transferring files from your main computer to your remote device, the dual-pane file transfer utility allows you to view directory trees of the host computer and the remote computer side by side. To move files, you simply drag and drop from one directory to the other. Alternatively, the Web transfer mode lets you download files, e-mail them, or send a secure link.

This last method is convenient for sending large files to a third party. However, dual-pane file transfers require ActiveX controls. If you use Microsoft’s Internet Explorer then you shouldn’t have a problem, but most alternative browsers, such as Firefox and Opera, do not allow ActiveX controls.

All data passing between your host computer and your remote browser travels through the company’s servers and is secured with 128-bit SSL encryption. However, Laplink Everywhere is limited to 256 colours, which means that some pictures and graphics will look banded or grainy. The Laplink Everywhere service currently doesn’t offer a true-colour option either, and remote printing is only supported in Remote Desktop mode, which requires the host computer to be running Windows XP Professional or Windows Server 2000/2003 with Terminal Services.

Another neat feature of the software is the way you can add additional users to your account and specify levels of access. Say, for instance, you could give your work colleague access to only certain folders on your hard disk drive at home (the ones where you would store work you took home on the weekend). Your partner, however, could have full access all your folders, or you might limit access to ‘view and retrieve only.’ You can even specify certain files, or types of files, that cannot be accessed by anyone (including yourself if desired) remotely.

The software costs £6.95 per month or £54.90 per year for a single-host PC licence with unlimited remote control. A free 15-day trial of Laplink Everywhere 4 is available here. You may also want to try LogMeIn and MyWebEx PC, which are free but basic fully-functional services. And if it’s only remote control functionality you need, definitely visit GoToMyPC’s Web site. Finally, you should note that Windows Remote Desktop (included in Windows XP) lets you access and even modify your Outlook e-mail, contacts and calendar appointments on your host PC remotely. [7]

[Best System Utility Pricing UK]
[Best System Utility Pricing US]

Got this product? Got a camcorder/mic? Let us post YOUR video/podcast review!