USA India
Home Articles UserTV Press Releases Dictionary Books Education Careers B-Channels Resources Forums Blogs Classifieds
Wednesday 3 Dec, 2008 Register Login
Archives
Articles By Date
Articles By Category
 
 
 Archives >> Details
Road trip!
Staying on track while on the road.
Posted by : Matt Lake

When you're on the road researching a book about some of the weird things in Pennsylvania (and who isn't?), two things strike you right away. The first is that Pennsylvania is a pretty weird place--and I have several thousand pages of research to prove it. The second is that when you're on the road anywhere, you're not in front of your office computer.

Being separated from your main working computer poses a problem if you need to check e-mail, file reports, and generally stay in touch while you're traveling. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep in touch--even if you're a working author stuck somewhere between Venus and Mars (yes, Pennsylvania has towns named after the second and fourth planets). The best way I've found--one that avoids the whole business of having to synch up data between two systems--is to use a remote access Web service such as GoToMyPC or I'm In Touch from 01 Communique.

Both these services install a piece of server software on your home base PC and let you log in quickly from any Web browser on any computer, anywhere. Once you've logged on, you can mess around with whatever files and features you need while you're on the road--including checking your e-mail. They use a log-in procedure that takes you through secure Web servers maintained by the two companies--and for that reason, they are both subscription services that you pay either monthly or yearly. Both of these services have their merits, but I like I'm In Touch a little better for two reasons--it costs only $100 a year, as opposed to GoToMyPC's $180, and it works faster on slower connections, a feature that makes it very appealing for remote dial-up users.

In touch by mail

When you log into I'm In Touch, you jump through a couple more hoops than you do with GoToMyPC--for one thing, you need to remember the Web address, which is www.01com.com. Compared to this, the simple gotomypc.com is pretty easy to remember. But once you're past that hurdle, any computer that handles secure socket connections (pretty much any computer with a Web browser) just puts you through.

With GoToMyPC, you need to download a player to view a scaled-down but accurate image of your home PC's screen. This can either be a permanent plug-in, or for library or other public access machines that don't allow you to install software, it's a Java player. Either way, GoToMyPC asks a little more of you. And because GoToMyPC downloads a working image of Windows across your Internet connection, you experience slight delays when you move the mouse or click in the application--something that gets old fast.

Once you're logged in via I'm In Touch, you see a prosaic-looking menu screen, not a reasonable facsimile of your home PC's screen. But this series of links gives you really speedy access to all the features you want on your home PC--e-mail, file transfer, and file management. Because this approach doesn't require a constantly updated graphical image of your home computer's screen, it's much more responsive--fast enough even to use on a slow dial-up line (which, you'll shortly see, proved a real deal-maker). Certainly, you can click a link to get a remote-control screen, but if all you want to do is get a file from your home system or do some quick e-mail business, why bother with the delay?

Wireless wonder

So here I was in central Pennsylvania with a story to file on a notebook computer. Deadlines have a nasty way of striking when you're driving somewhere without a convenient broadband or Wi-Fi access point. (Pennsylvania may put its state Web address on its license plates, but it doesn't provide Boingo service on the turnpike.)

However, I do have a cell phone and a gizmo from Gomadic.com that enables me to use it as an on-ramp to the Internet. Gomadic's ComCube is a $50 set of cables that go between either a notebook computer or a Palm or Pocket PC handheld and many popular cellular phone brands (even my bulky old Kyocera 2255). You can configure it without having to install any software, and before you know it, you're able to dial out and get online. It's not the speedy connection--it's actually an ancient 14.4Kbps connection--but for a quick e-mail check it's adequate to the task.

In fact, I did manage to connect to I'm In Touch using the Gomadic setup and check my home PC's e-mail, which meant that I didn't even have to download any bulky attachment-laden messages. I just opened the messages I needed to, composed and sent the ones I had waiting, and got back to my research road trip.

So here I am in the wilds of the Keystone State. If anybody has any stories about weird happenings in Pennsylvania that I've not yet encountered for myself, drop me a line at weirdpa@crashreboot.com. I'll pick up your mail while I'm on the road.

 
 
Archives by Date
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright © 1994-2008 ComputerUser, Inc., All Rights Reserved All marks are trademarks of ComputerUser Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of ComputerUser, Inc. is prohibited.
About us | Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Legal | Trademark/Copyright | Awards | Advertise | Writer guidelines | Sitemap Html Xml | Contact | FAQ's | Feedback  | Link to us

Here are the topics we cover computer certification computer careers computer training computer games consulting data recovery data security digital entertainment emerging technology gadget reviews handheld computers hardware reviews home automation home networks home office how-to advice internet linux local companies local news local profiles macintosh mp3 players network security online music online security open-source small-business technology soho software reviews technology books technology dictionary vpn web site reviews wi-fi windows wireless technology tech articles tech news press releases tech dictionary education resources career solutions create your personal blog upload your videos become a writer usergroups special interest group SIG 3com cipts adobe adobe certified expert apc ncpi apple achds acpt acsa actc avaya bea 8.1 certified administrator 8.1 certified architect 8.1 certified developer 9 certified administrator bicsi rcdd checkpoint ccmse ccsa ccsa ngx ccse ccse ng plus with ai ccse ngx cisco access routing and lan switching ccda ccdp ccie ccip ccna ccnp ccnp old ccsp ccvp crmam ip communications optical proctored exams for validating knowledge sales specialist storage networking vpn and security wireless lan citrix cca 3.0 cca 4.0 cca 4.5 cca xp ccea 3.0 ccea 4.0 ccea xp ccia ciw ciw associate ciw certified instructor master ciw admin master ciw designer master ciw enterprise developer security analyst comptia a+ network+ security+ server+ computer associates ca cusa cuse cwna cwna cwsp dell eccouncil cea cep certified ethical hacker chfi e-commerce architect emc emc specialist implemenation technology foundations enterasys ese eta exam express exin exin itil extreme networks ena ens filemaker f7cd f8cd fortinet fortigate foundry cne fujitsu fujitsu guidance software ence hdi css hda hdm hdsa hitachi hitachi certified professional hp ais apc app aps ase certified systems developer csa cse master ase huawei hcne hyperion hcp ibm advanced deployment professional advanced technical expert application developer business process analyst certified administrator certified advanced system administrator certified advanced technical expert certified associate developer certified enterprise developer certified solution designer certified specialist certified systems expert database administrator db2 deployment professional enterprise developer eserver certified specialist ibm on demand business solution advisor solution designer solutions developer solutions expert storage administrator system administator iisfa cifi intel isaca cisa isc cissp sscp iseb itil ism cpm juniper jncia jncis legato lcaa lcea lotus clp lpi lpic level 1 lpic level 2 lpic level 3 macromedia mcafee mcdata csnd microsoft crm mbs mcad .net mcdba mcdst mcitp mcp mcpd mcsa longhorn mcsa 2003 mcsa 2008 mcsd .net mcse mcse 2000 security mcse 2000 to mcse 2003 upgrade mcse 2003 mcse 2003 messaging mcse 2003 security mcse 2008 mcts microsoft business solutions microsoft partner competency mile2 cnsa network appliance nac-na nac-nie naca nace nacp network general sniffer certified professional nokia nokia security administrator nortel ncde ncds ncse ncss ncts novell5 cna 5 cne 6 cna 6 cne 6.5 cne cne upgrade omg ocup oracle 10g dba 10g oca 11i 8i dba 9i dba 9i internet application developer oca ocp8 to ocp8i dba upgrade exam pmi project management professional polycom pcve redhat rhce rhct sair sas institute sas scp saas scp snia snia certified architect snia certified professional snia certified systems engineer snia storage networking certification program administrator professional associate symantec scse scsp scta scts teradata tca v2r5 tcad v2r5 tcda v2r5 tcis v2r5 tcm v2r5 tcp v2r5 tia ccnt ctp tibco tcp trusecure ticsa veritas infraguard chamber of commerce vcp vmware certified professional webex linkedin facebook myspace Professional page layout, image editing, vector illustration, and print production Website design, development, prototyping, and blogging Creation of rich interactive content Industry-standard visual effects and motion graphics Video capture, editing, and production; DVD titling; and digital audio, Adobe Photoshop CS3 extended, Adobe illustrator CS3,Adobe indesign CS3,Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional, Adobe Flash CS3 Professional, Adobe Dreamweaver CS3,Adobe Contribute CS3,Adobe Fireworks CS3,Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional, Adobe Premiere Pro CS3,Adobe Soundbooth CS3,Adobe Encore CS3,Adobe OnLocation,Adobe Bridge CS3,Adobe Version Cue CS3,Adobe Device Central CS3,Adobe Stock Photos, Intel Pentium 4 (1.4GHz processor for DV; 3.4GHz processor for HDV), Intel Centrino, Intel Xeon, (dual 2.8GHz processors for HD), or Intel Core, Duo (or compatible) processor; SSE2-enabled processor required for AMD systems Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise (certified for 32-bit editions) 1GB of RAM for DV; 2GB of RAM for HDV and HD; more RAM recommended when running multiple components 10GB of available hard-disk space (additional free space required during installation) Dedicated 7,200 RPM hard drive for DV and HDV editing; striped disk array storage (RAID 0) for HD; SCSI disk subsystem preferred Microsoft DirectX compatible sound card (multichannel ASIO-compatible sound card recommended),1,280x1,024 monitor resolution with 32-bit color adapter Blu-ray burner required for Blu-ray Disc creation OHCI compatible IEEE 1394 port for DV and HDV capture, export to tape, and transmit to DV device QuickTime 7.1.2 software required to use QuickTime features Broadband Internet connection required for Adobe Stock Photos* and other services

3PAR, Accellion, Acronis, Actional, Active Endpoints, ActiveGrid, activePDF, ActiveServers, ActiveState, Actuate, Adaptec, Agile Software, AGiLiENCE, Agilysys, Akorri, AlachiSoft, Alter Logic, Altor Networks, Altova, AMD, AMDAHL, Amentra, Amyuni, anacubis, Apani, APC, Appcelerator, AppSense, AppStream, Array Networks, Ascential, Astaro, Attune Systems, Autodesk, AutoVirt, Availl, Avanade, Azul Systems, Barracuda Networks, BEA Systems, B-hive, Black Duck Software, Blackbaud, Blade Network Technologies, Blue Coat, Blue Lane, BlueArc, BlueNote Networks, BluePheonix Solutions, BMC Software, Borland, Bristol Technology, Brix Networks, BroadVision, Brocade, Burton Group, Business Objects, CA, CalAmp, Cassatt, Cast Iron Systems, Catbird, Cayenne Technologies, Ceedo Technologies, Cenzic, Certeon, CiRBA, Cisco Systems, Cision, Citrix Systems, ClearApp, ClearCube Technology, CollabNet, Compass America, Composite Software, Compugen, Compuware, Configuresoft, Continuity Software, Coraid, Courion, Coyote Point Systems, Crescendo Networks, CSC, DataCore, DataSynapse, Dell, Desktone, Digipede Technologies, Double-Take Software, Ecora Software, EDS, eG Innovations, Egenera, Elastra Corporation, Electric Cloud, Embotics, EMC Corporation, Emulex, Endeavors Technology, Enigmatic Corporation, Enterprise Management Associates, Entuity, EqualLogic, Ericom Software, ESRI, EVault, eXludus Technologies, F5 Networks, FalconStor, FastScale Technology, Foedus, Force10 Networks, Fortisphere, Forum Systems, Fujitsu, GemStone Systems, Getronics, GlassHouse, Green Hills Software, Grid Dynamics, GridGain Systems, GT Software, Hitachi, HP, Hyper9, Hyperic, IBM, ICEsoft, IGEL Technology, Illumita, ILOG, IMEX Research, Information Builders, Ingres, InstallFree, Integrien, Intel, Intellium, International Computerware, iTKO LISA, JBoss, Juniper, KACE, Kidaro, LeftHand Networks, Leostream, Lifeboat Distribution, Liquid Computing Corporation, Liquid Technology, Lynux Works, Mainline, ManageIQ, Managed Methods, ManageSoft, Marathon Technologies, McAfee, Mellanox Technologies, Microsoft, Mid-Atlantic Computers, Mindbridge Software, Mindreef, MKS, MonoSphere, Motorola, MQSoftware, mySoftIT, NASTEL, Ncomputing, NEC, Neocleus, NeoPath Networks, Neoware, NetApp, Netegrity, Neterion, Netuitive, Neverfail, Nexaweb, NextAxiom, Nimbus, Nimsoft, Niyuta, NoMachine, Novell, ONStor, Opalis Software, Open Kernel Labs, OpenSpan, OPNET Technologies, Optaros, OpTier, Oracle, Pano Logic, Parallels, Parasoft, Perforce Software, PHD Technologies, Phoenix Technologies, Phurnace Software, Pillar Data Systems, PlateSpin/Novell, Progress Software, Prolifics, ProSync Technology, Provision Networks, QLogic, Quest Software, Racemi, Raritan, Raxco Software, Red Hat, Reflex Security, Resolution Enterprises, RingCube Technologies, Riverbed Technology, Rogue Wave Software, RSA Security, Sagnet Solutions, SanDisk Corporation, SAP, SAVVIS, ScaleMP, Scalent Systems, Seanodes, Secure Command, Secure Computing, Sentillion, Shavlik Technologies, ServInt Internet Services, Silpion IT Solutions, SIMtone, Skytap, Skyway Software, Software AG, Sonasoft, SourceGear, Splunk, StackSafe, SteelEye Technology, StillSecure, StoneFly, Stonesoft, Stoneware, StoreVault, StrikeIron, STT WebOS, Sun Microsystems, SunGard, Supermicro Computer, Surgient, SWsoft, Sybase, Symantec, Systar, TBD Networks, Tenfold, TheInfoPro, Thinstall, Third Brigade, TIBCO Software, Tidal Software, Tideway Systems, TOA Solutions, TRANGO Virtual Processors, Trend Micro, Tresys Technology, Trigence, Tripwire, Ulteo, Unisys, United Devices, VaST Systems, VDIworks, VeeAm Software, Verari Systems, Verio, VeriSign, Vicom Computer Services, VirtenSys, Virtera, Virtual Iron, VirtualLogix, Virtugo Software, Virtutech, VisionCore, Vizioncore, VKernel, VMLogix, vmSight, VMware, Vordel, vThere-Sentillion, Vyatta, WaveMaker, Web Age Solutions, WSO2, Wyse Technology, XDS, XenoCode, Xiotech, xkoto, Xsigo Systems, Zenith Optemedia, Zeus Technology.