Steve Sharp
07-21-2004, 05:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-0715-GTMPC0" /> <br /><b>Product Category:</b> Productivity software<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.citrixonline.com"><span style="color:blue">Citrix Online</span></a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.gotomypc.com"><span style="color:blue">GoToMyPC</span></a><br /><b>Price:</b> $19.95 USD monthly to access 1 PC or $179.40 USD annually (averages $14.95 USD/monthly on the annual subscription plan)<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> Works with Microsoft Pocket PC 2002, Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003/2003SE, Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003/2003SE Phone Edition, and most devices running Microsoft Windows CE 4.0 or later, web-enabled PPC with either WiFi or GPRS capability, 1 Megabyte of storage space on the PPC, 8 Megabytes of RAM to execute, 4 Megabytes of storage on the host computer, and a host computer with a constant Internet connection.<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><li>Provides portable access to the host computer files, contacts, e-mails, and applications;<br /><li>Requires minimal Pocket PC storage space;<br /><li>Easy to install and use;<br /><li>The host computer can be changed--the subscription permits the user the unlimited ability to change which PC will serve as host;<br /><li>Unlike a peer connection, GoToMyPC does not require modification to firewalls or open ports.<b>Cons:</b><li>8 Megabytes of RAM is considerable for Pocket PCs with limited amounts of memory;<br /><li>The user must log in and download the 40 kilobyte executable file to the Pocket PC each time a connection is desired;<br /><li>Transferring files between the Pocket PC and host computer is not readily supported by the Pocket PC version of the software;<br /><li>Remote access can be very slow and depends upon the speed of the Pocket PC GPRS or WiFi connection;<br /><li>Subscription price is moderately high unless this capability is regularly needed.<br /><b>Summary:</b><br />For professionals on-the-go, and who often find themselves away from their primary work computer, GoToMyPC Pocketview 4.0 can provide valuable access to a work computer or files that may otherwise be inaccessible. GoToMyPC 4.0 allows the user complete control of the host computer. This includes the ability to execute applications, send e-mails from the host computer, and manipulate files on the host PC.<br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-0715-GTMPC1" /><br /><i>Figure 1: Logon screen on GoToMyPC's website.</i><br /><br /><span><b>Is that a Desktop in Your Pocket?</b></span><br />How many times have you found yourself at home and needing to access a file on your work PC, or been out of town and needed to access a file on your home PC? With GoToMyPC v4.0 Pocketview, this is no problem. For that matter, if the work computer set up to host your GoToMyPC connection is on a LAN, you can access the LAN with your PPC. Obviously, most Pocket PCs do not have the color rendering capabilities of a desktop monitor, and the screen resolution and physical size of a PPC display can pose problems with viewing details or small text, although GoToMyPC has addressed this by giving the user the capability of zooming in and enlarging the text and images on the PPC screen. When the user logs on to the host computer, the PPC functions as a remote control for the host and allows the user to gain full access to execute programs, view files, and look up and send e-mail and contacts via the host. For those faint-hearted souls who cringe at the prospect of security breeches, GoToMyPC uses Secure Socket Layers (SSL) technology and it is enabled to handle full 128-bit encryption for security.<br /><li>GoToMyPC allows the user full access to the host computer from any desktop, laptop, or PPC connected to the Internet;<br /><li>GoToMyPC supports screen sizing and rotating to aid in viewing small text on the host PC;<br /><li>GoToMyPC supports application launching and e-mail access on the host computer;<br /><li>GoToMyPC utilizes Secure Socket Layers and full 128-bit encryption for security.<br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-0715-gtmpc5" /><br /><i>Figure 2: Logon to host computer.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>How Does this Thing Work?</b></span><br />Pretty well, actually. When GoToMyPC sets up, a 3.6 Megabyte file is installed on the host computer. The user allows GoToMyPC to run in the background (minimized) and leaves the computer powered on and connected to the Internet. The host is then registered with the GoToMyPC portal, and will deny access to anyone who tries to connect to the host without the credentials to access it. When the user needs to access the host, he or she connects his or her PPC to the Internet via WiFi or GPRS, uses a username and password to login to the GoToMyPC portal, and a 40 Kilobyte file is downloaded to the PPC. The user then logs on to the host computer using a user-defined access code. <br /><br />Admittedly, logging onto GoToMyPC and downloading the 40 Kilobyte file each time a connection is desired is a bit of a hassle, and even a relatively small file such as this can take a couple of minutes to download on a spottyey or slow GPRS or WiFi connection. It's not overly burdensome, but it is an inconvenience. In a world where we often expect instant gratification, GoToMyPC doesn't provide this. But, when faced with the prospect of being 1,000 miles from home and needing information from the desktop at work, 2 or 3 minutes seems like a small price to pay if it means getting what you need. While GoToMyPC Pocketview doesn't directly support direct file transfers, there's more than one way to skin the proverbial cat. You can e-mail yourself a file attachment from the host computer and retrieve the e-mail with the PPC, and viola! You have the file.<br /> <br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-0715-gtmpc4" /><br /><i>Figure 3: Connecting the PPC to the host.</i><br /><!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Sounds Good. . . and Complicated</b></span><br />No. The one-time 3.6 Megabyte file download from GoToMyPC to the host computer takes less than 2 minutes, over a broadband connection, and it configures itself automatically. Filling out your name, address, and registration information probably takes more brain-power than setting up the software. I downloaded the file to my host computer and had my PPC connected to the host in less than 10 minutes. The user does not need to know anything about IP addresses, network settings, hardware configuration, firewalls, or PPC configuration settings in order to make GoToMyPC work. If you can download and install a file, you can make it work.<br /> <br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-0715-GTMPC2" /><br /><i>Figure 4: Launch applications on the host with GoToMyPC.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>You Say it's Good, But is it Fast?</b></span><br />"Fast" is a relative term. An Internet connection is only as fast as the slowest transmission rate in the chain. Therefore, it follows that the speed of the response and refresh rates on the PPC will depend heavily upon the GPRS or WiFi connection of the PPC, the amount of graphics that are on the host PC, and (to some extent) the processor speed of the PPC. Accessing your desktop with your PPC, in terms of speed, is no different than accessing web pages with your PPC. All of the same variables that determine how quickly a page loads to the PPC will also come into play when accessing your host computer. But, while no one will accuse this technology of providing smoking fast page loads or downloads, GoToMyPC is a tool designed for its functionality and not simply for a lark.<br /><br />Speaking of functionality, when considering the value of this service, it pays to remember that unless you're running a 1990s vintage desktop with a puny hard drive, your desktop computer has many times more storage space than your PPC does. Most of us couldn't possibly load all of the applications that we commonly use onto our PPCs, and if you can execute these desktop programs remotely, then there's no incentive to try. It is highly recommended, however, to consider getting an external keyboard for your PPC in order to make full use of GoToMyPC's functionality. <br /> <br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-0715-GTMPC3" /><br /><i>Figure 5: Access, send, and receive e-mail via GoToMyPC.</i><br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />To justify the cost of a subscription to GoToMyPC, a potential customer needs to evaluate his or her personal and professional situation. If you're a stay-at-home mom or dad who barely ventures out to get the mail, then you probably don't need to spend the money for this service. Similarly, if you use your computer primarily as a gaming machine, your money is probably better spent on a G-Shock joystick or a fancy video card. But, for those, such as myself, who travel a great deal and who seem be in constant need of a missing file or forgotten e-mail address, GoToMyPC is a valuable tool. And, for all of my complaints about having to download a file and log in each time I want to connect and slow connections to my PC, the inescapable fact is that GoToMyPC does work as advertised and is the only product on the market, that I know of, that provides this functionality from a PPC (pcAnywhere will not run on any PDA Operating System and requires a 35 Megabyte installation on the host computer, not to mention the fact that pcAnywhere's MSRP lists at $199.95). <br /><br />GoToMyPC is actually a service, and provides web access to the host computer--it is not a software-specific application that must be installed on both computers. So, unlike competitive products, GoToMyPC allows an authorized user to connect to the host with any web accessible PC. With GoToMyPC, the user can change the host as quickly as it takes to download the 3.6 Megabyte file, access time is unlimited, and the user can access the host from anywhere, what more could you want? Still, the bottom line is that GoToMyPC v4.0 is like so many other things in this world: if you need it, it's well worth the price.