no mac
 

The only downside to the VNC solution, which I don't really understand why, is that they don't support the mac platform, client or server until one does pay up for the enterprise solution. Not sure why.

Logmein supports all platforms from their free client, and up.

disclaimer: I have owned LOGM in the past, be recently exited at 45, but will buy it again in the future.

Question about logmein..

I have issues getting to my personal email from work, so I thought this might be a good solution.

Is it?
Once installed on my home PC, I'm assuming I go to the logmein website to access it. Correct?
If so, as long as I can get to my personal stuff/email and any web browsing I might do is via the logmein website and not my work computer, hence there is no security issue with my work computer. Right?

Any gotchas?

Many thanks.

Yes, that's the way it is. The tunnel is encrypted, so unless there is some serious packet sniffing going on, work or anywhere for that matter is not going to see the traffic.
Downsides to the FREE product, are you don't get audio or remote print support or direct filesharing support (drag from the browser session to your LOCAL desktop!) but that can always be purchased if they are indeed necessary.

Your work IT people may not see it that way. They may see logmein as a way to get around all their security standards (I was at one place that did) and won't be happy with you trying to get around it.

I'm not saying that they are correct, all you are doing is controlling the mouse and keyboard on the home machine, but there may be a perceived security risk, even if there is not a real one.

logmein free
 

logmein free is great, i have been using it for years

Thanks to both of you. I suspect there is serious packet sniffing going on :) However, I'm thinking/hoping is that this is more like citrix where all that passes back and forth (for the free version) are screenshots.

They have already told me to forward my personal email to my work address so it could go through their filters, and my only real issue is that sometimes I want/need to reply using that address, hence wanting to use logmein.

I guess I could try it and if the IT police come a-callin' I can just play dumb :)

If you can get to the website you will probably be fine. We were blocked from accessing any of the remote access sites

I checked and can get to the website. I'm going to install it at home tonight and will check to see what happens.

financial and other industries
 

Just a quick note. If you work in the financial and some other industries, this type of external access to communications is illegal. You would have been instructed a few years ago (or sooner during employee orientation) about accessing external communication platforms either IN work, or external during work. YOU can be liable in the case that you circumvent the solutions that IT puts in place to prohibit employees from being able to affect communication external that is not captured by federally required internal tracking solutions. So, be warned.

No, I wasn't advised and I'm not in the financial services industry. I read our IT policy, and security is so strict due to virus and hacking attacks.

I do thank you for the heads up ^^

I use log me in on all my computers. Good luck if you think you are going to install it at work. You have to have it enabled on your pc at the office to connect and I doubt very much your IT people will not see this remote access and shut it down even if the ports are open to get it installed.
My firewall is monitered 24/7 and I am unable to use logmein ,pcanywhere,or remote access,actually I can not get to any site on my work pc that has not been approved by IT.... Some days I think I am going to take a hammer and smash that red box LOL

So I'm going to use logmein to support a customer of mine while she's on the road; the free version looks fine. However, I'm a little confused about the best instructions to give my customer. She will create an account, download the software, set a secret access code, etc. But it appears that she has to "invite" me to share her desktop? If she's running the client software and she gives me her secret access code, can I manage her machine without an invitation?

Teamviewer may work out better using the Teamviewer quick support app.

However note Teamviewer free is for non commercial use only. You mention you will be using it to support a "customer", which suggests it will be for commercial use.

it really is much better if the machine is in YOUR universe of target-able machines.

Update:

I installed the client on my PC at home last night. I tested it on my husband's MAC and it worked like a charm.

I just used it to access from my office, and again, it worked like a charm.

I don't have any real need or interest in using the more advanced features, such as file transfer, etc, so the free version, which just allows me to see my PC at home and use my email/internet access is perfectly fine. If I want to work on a personal file, well, I'm going to leave it on the home PC, not transfer it.

From the best I can tell, nothing is taking place on my work computer, except visually, and that's all I need.