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Technology reviews
By JULES ALLEN PcAnywhereCompany: Symantec System: Windows Price: $136 to $176 Web: www.symantec.com/pcanywhere/Consumer/ PcAnywhere is a Windows-only remote control and file copy program. In its simplest form, the program is installed on two PCs and one can be controlled from the other. For the lazy, it's great to fix a problem in the office down the hall without having to leave your seat. For the practical, it means you can support somebody in another city or even another country without physically touching the remote computer. In the latest version, most of what has been added is of importance to corporate types, such as password authentication against a central corporate server. I liked the fact that communication between two computers can be explicitly encrypted so passwords and sensitive data won't fall prey to snoopers. I didn't like that you have to hunt through a bunch of screens to turn this on. If you're a Windows user and have to train or support other Windows users, it's a great program to have. TimbuktuCompany: Netopia System: Windows, Macintosh Price: $183 to 210 Web: www.netopia.com/software/products/tb2/ Like pcAnywhere, Timbuktu is a remote control and file copy program. Where it differs is that it allows you to control Macs and Windows PCs from each platform. So, for example, if you have a relative that has an iMac, your PC can control the machine from afar. Another user-friendly feature is finding somebody via e-mail address. Trying to have Uncle Bernie figure out his Internet protocol, or IP, address so you can find his computer on the Internet can be an uphill struggle. Like pcAnywhere, Timbuktu performs well and encrypts data. It has a slight edge on being easier to use for the home and small office user. VNCCompany: AT&T System: Multiple Price: Free If all you want is the ability to watch or control a remote computer and have no need for file transfer, this might be perfect. And it's free, which pleases those of us without deep pockets. It lacks a lot of the bells and whistles but, like Timbuktu, will work with both your Mac and your PC. Unlike either of the commercial products, it also works on Linux, Windows CE, Palm OS and other esoteric operating systems. There is no encryption built in so this might not work for the paranoid. -- JULES ALLEN, Times correspondent
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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