Sometimes it seems like anyone who obtains even a little bit of computer knowledge has some sort of unwritten obligation to help everyone he knows with their computers. Like most of these users, you've probably found yourself being asked to fix a friend's computer, and perhaps even multiple times. That sometimes means repeated trips to that home to gain access to their system. You can avoid all of that complexity by using one of the various remote PC assistance offerings on the market today.
Granted, this may not be necessary if the requests for help are limited to times when you're already at someone's house. For those repeat requests, however, it can sometimes be preferable to simply have ready access to the other person's system so that you can manage everything from the comfort of your own home. The hard part is knowing what features to look for when choosing an option for remotely accessing those computers.
The first thing to consider is price. Now, there are some fine paid options out there, and some of them have a variety of additional features that are perfect for professional technicians who earn their living troubleshooting problems. For casual troubleshooters, however, free is always best. There are a variety of these free options out there, including the built-in Windows software.
You also want something that is easy to install. The last thing you need is to have to travel to help a friend install a program for remotely accessing his or her system at the very moment when they need you troubleshooting some other problem. Simple installations are available, so those concerns are easily addressed. And, for those family members who are truly clueless about computers, you can always install it for them well in advance of their next troubleshooting need.
With the Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems all in use, software needs to be able to connect computers that have different operating structures. Windows remains the choice of most business and personal users, but it is still helpful to have that kind of cross-platform connectivity available.
There are also software options that enable the creation of permanent portals. Those allow you to access the other user's system at any time, which can be a real asset if you're helping someone who can't ever remember to run his own maintenance. It's not a necessity, obviously, but can be useful in those extreme cases.
Temporary portals with strong security measures are usually preferable though. Many casual computer users have some serious reservations about security, imagining that any outside access could pose a threat to their system. They see it as a potential security breach, and thus prefer temporary access so that they can see what is being done. Obviously, you want to help them feel that their systems are safe and secure.
Now, you may be one of those people who loves being summoned to friends' houses at all hours to deal with seemingly simple computer issues. Chances are, though, that these summons are more than a little bit annoying. The good news is that you can avoid them by remotely accessing those computers using this type of software.
Granted, this may not be necessary if the requests for help are limited to times when you're already at someone's house. For those repeat requests, however, it can sometimes be preferable to simply have ready access to the other person's system so that you can manage everything from the comfort of your own home. The hard part is knowing what features to look for when choosing an option for remotely accessing those computers.
The first thing to consider is price. Now, there are some fine paid options out there, and some of them have a variety of additional features that are perfect for professional technicians who earn their living troubleshooting problems. For casual troubleshooters, however, free is always best. There are a variety of these free options out there, including the built-in Windows software.
You also want something that is easy to install. The last thing you need is to have to travel to help a friend install a program for remotely accessing his or her system at the very moment when they need you troubleshooting some other problem. Simple installations are available, so those concerns are easily addressed. And, for those family members who are truly clueless about computers, you can always install it for them well in advance of their next troubleshooting need.
With the Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems all in use, software needs to be able to connect computers that have different operating structures. Windows remains the choice of most business and personal users, but it is still helpful to have that kind of cross-platform connectivity available.
There are also software options that enable the creation of permanent portals. Those allow you to access the other user's system at any time, which can be a real asset if you're helping someone who can't ever remember to run his own maintenance. It's not a necessity, obviously, but can be useful in those extreme cases.
Temporary portals with strong security measures are usually preferable though. Many casual computer users have some serious reservations about security, imagining that any outside access could pose a threat to their system. They see it as a potential security breach, and thus prefer temporary access so that they can see what is being done. Obviously, you want to help them feel that their systems are safe and secure.
Now, you may be one of those people who loves being summoned to friends' houses at all hours to deal with seemingly simple computer issues. Chances are, though, that these summons are more than a little bit annoying. The good news is that you can avoid them by remotely accessing those computers using this type of software.
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