Alternative to LogMeIn?

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stevenz

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#94520 13-Dec-2011 10:54

Are there any useful free alternatives to LogMeIn that don't require people at other end to need to be able to setup port-forwarding on their router?

I need to be able to connect on a very infrequent basis to a couple of relatives in the south island and can't justify paying for the LogMeIn service when the requirements are so non-critical. Being able to email them a link and say "click on that" so let me get at their system rather than trying to explain to complete techophobes how to put in unusual URLs would be preferable.

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freitasm

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#557347 13-Dec-2011 10:57

LogMeIn comes in Free and Paid versions. I have LogMeIn free at home and use the paid versions on Geekzone servers...

Are you saying you haven't seen the option to install the free version?

Here, let me help you: https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/

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garvani

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#557348 13-Dec-2011 11:03

We looked around and settled on teamviewer. It has gotten through every firewall i have tried it on. Has a free version as well with a dedicated host.

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#557353 13-Dec-2011 11:09

Teamviewer is very good - I use logmein (free) to access my work PC from home as well.

There is also a product called joinme (joinme.com) thats easy to use (and free) - It uses logmein underneath.

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freitasm

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#557354 13-Dec-2011 11:15

JoinMe is great, but it requires people to run the program and "invite" others. It's intended for demos and meetings where sharing the screen is a great tool - but if your user is not that tech savvy, better having a dedicated program such as LogMeIn - set and forget.

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gehenna

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#557358 13-Dec-2011 11:22

LogMeIn Free can be a bit tricky to get working because once you install/set up an account there is an option, from memory, to trial the full version - but it isn't worded very well and many people just accept the option and move on. Then after the trial runs out you get all the "pay us" prompts and so forth so people get confused and think there is no free version.

Also I've never ever had a firewall issue with LogMeIn .... I thought that was the point??

freitasm

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#557359 13-Dec-2011 11:24

What is tricky about READING the install dialogs and making sure you uncheck any box should be checked? After it's installed it never changes. But yes, I know what mean, with some people just flying through [NEXT] [NEXT] [NEXT] [FINISH]...

Obviously whoever is installing is not the non-tech savvy owner - unless it is an emergency.

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gehenna

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#557367 13-Dec-2011 11:35

What I'm meaning is the dialogue is ambiguous so hard to know whether to leave it checked or not.

chiefie

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#557370 13-Dec-2011 11:44

Logmein doesn't require you to setup any port forwarding. It just work. I have like 4 computers managed through LMI Free.

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#557822 14-Dec-2011 11:55

+1 for teamviewer
I use it for everything, Managing the work server, connecting to any of my computers and if friends or family need help they can just download the quick support application and tell me the ID and pass and your in so easily

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#557827 14-Dec-2011 12:05

+1 for LogMeIn. I installed the free version on 50 computers here at work and then pay for the LogMeIn Central service to access them all via a dashboard.

For your use the free version will work fine. And as freitasm and gehenna said just make sure to un-tick the 14 day pro trial and you are all good to go.

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#557866 14-Dec-2011 13:19

I use all three RDP, Teamviewer and logmein. Depending on the issue and scenario I switch. Mainly I use logmein and teamviewer.

Do whatever you want to do man.

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#557873 14-Dec-2011 13:30

+1 for teamviewer. Use paid version at work and free at home. Has yet to fail to get through any firewalls and we have a truckload of security at work.

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stevenz

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#558295 15-Dec-2011 13:10

freitasm: LogMeIn comes in Free and Paid versions. I have LogMeIn free at home and use the paid versions on Geekzone servers...

Are you saying you haven't seen the option to install the free version?

Here, let me help you: https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/

I was under the impression that it was a trial that would only work for x days, so if I wanted to use it again in a couple of months, I'd be out of luck. If this is not in fact and it's just the "pro" features that go away after x days then I shall investigate and I apologise for my lack of reading comprehension.

Maybe they shouldn't use the word "try" on the download button as to me that implies that is is time\function limited in some way.

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#558298 15-Dec-2011 13:12

It is not time limited. As said before just uncheck the box that install Pro features and you have the free version, forever.

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