Access your PC through your iPad with these apps
Business Technology | June 17, 2014
Working out of the office is often frustrating–especially when you want to access a key file on your desktop computer and that pc sits hundreds of miles away. Fortunately, iPad owners can access several apps that permit them to remotely access the files and data in their laptops and desktop computers, no matter how far away from them they might be. Termed remote-access programs, these tools come in a wide variety of prices. They also target a wide variety of iPad users, from those concentrating on business to individuals who’re more interested in watching movies and listening to music. Here’s a quick look at three of the most useful remote-access apps currently available for iPad users.
GoToMyPC: GoToMyPC ranks as the grandfather of remote-access services. The folks behind the service, Citrix, have been offering users remote use of their PCs and laptops since before the iPad even entered the market. The good news about this service? It’s one of the most powerful remote-access app on the market. It’s also incredibly easy to work with. PC Magazine, in a recent review, points to the intuitive button system that allows you to easily navigate through your computer. Additionally, it praises the system’s arrows function, which allows you to make use of your iPad to imitate moving your cursor with a mouse. The downside? GoToMyPC isn’t a bargain. Depending on your service, expect to pay about $9.95 a month or $99 a year for the program. For some users who only need to remotely access their PC on rare occasions, that cost might be too high.
SplashTop Remote Desktop: SplashTop Remote Desktop qualifies among those lower-priced applications, priced at just $4.99. According to a recent review by CNET, that price is a bargain. CNET’s editors praised SplashTop as easy to use and effective. They also cited its ability to recover movies and music stored on your remote computers. It is a service that most other remote-access apps can’t take on.
LogMeIn Ignition: Elliott also tested LogMeIn Ignition and gave it good reviews. It is a bit more pricey than is SplashTop Remote Desktop. But it comes with a feature that may justify the extra cost for business users: You can use this app to remotely wake a sleeping or shut-off PC, a job other remote-access apps can’t do. It’s also possible to use this app to copy or move files from a remote PC to the iPad, another feature that other remote-access apps can’t duplicate.
Working out of the office is often frustrating–especially when you want to access a key file on your desktop computer and that pc sits hundreds of miles away. Fortunately, iPad owners can access several apps that permit them to remotely access the files and data in their laptops and desktop computers, no matter how far away from them they might be. Termed remote-access programs, these tools come in a wide variety of prices. They also target a wide variety of iPad users, from those concentrating on business to individuals who’re more interested in watching movies and listening to music. Here’s a quick look at three of the most useful remote-access apps currently available for iPad users.
GoToMyPC: GoToMyPC ranks as the grandfather of remote-access services. The folks behind the service, Citrix, have been offering users remote use of their PCs and laptops since before the iPad even entered the market. The good news about this service? It’s one of the most powerful remote-access app on the market. It’s also incredibly easy to work with. PC Magazine, in a recent review, points to the intuitive button system that allows you to easily navigate through your computer. Additionally, it praises the system’s arrows function, which allows you to make use of your iPad to imitate moving your cursor with a mouse. The downside? GoToMyPC isn’t a bargain. Depending on your service, expect to pay about $9.95 a month or $99 a year for the program. For some users who only need to remotely access their PC on rare occasions, that cost might be too high.
SplashTop Remote Desktop: SplashTop Remote Desktop qualifies among those lower-priced applications, priced at just $4.99. According to a recent review by CNET, that price is a bargain. CNET’s editors praised SplashTop as easy to use and effective. They also cited its ability to recover movies and music stored on your remote computers. It is a service that most other remote-access apps can’t take on.
LogMeIn Ignition: Elliott also tested LogMeIn Ignition and gave it good reviews. It is a bit more pricey than is SplashTop Remote Desktop. But it comes with a feature that may justify the extra cost for business users: You can use this app to remotely wake a sleeping or shut-off PC, a job other remote-access apps can’t do. It’s also possible to use this app to copy or move files from a remote PC to the iPad, another feature that other remote-access apps can’t duplicate.