Networking from home

[Big Dave2]

With my current health condition I find myself needing to work from home for the next month or 2. Other members of my office have done this using something called gotomypc. My problem is that my laptop I had just recently died and I was thinking of replacing it with a chrome book. My question is, is there a way to use gotomypc or some other networking alternative on a chrome book or do I have to bite the bullet and get another windows laptop?

[leechlake]

Big Dave,

send me a PM if you don't get a simple answer from a poster in the near future. I can point you in the right direction I believe. My accountant and I and other people are set up to access a computer in our office when we're off site. I use an app called 2X Client (on a Mac)and the others use Microsoft Remote Desktop, the have PC's.

For the 2X Client I had to have the IP, gateway, subnet addresses if I recall. Also, this computer had a "static" IP address which means it doesn't randomly change like many IP addresses do for security. If you don't have a static IP I'm not sure what you do to always have a connection. Some products I've had people use to access my computer work pretty slow but since they are only doing maintenance it's no big deal. If you use the ones I mentioned above there is no delays.

BTW, I'm not expert on this subject so some of my info above may be close to accurate but not perfect. I only know what I know from setting this up a few times.

[LMITOUT]

http://www.howtogeek.com/191566/how-to-a...n-a-chromebook/

[upnorth]

Teamviewer

Here is another option. Teamviewer.

Snip

Chromebook remote support using Teamviewer

I have found that I can connect from my Chromebook using www.teamviewer.com‘s web client I think teamviewers web client product is named WebConnector. It runs nicely inside the Chromebook’s Chrome browser and allows connection.

[Whoaru99]

With my current health condition I find myself needing to work from home for the next month or 2. Other members of my office have done this using something called gotomypc. My problem is that my laptop I had just recently died and I was thinking of replacing it with a chrome book. My question is, is there a way to use gotomypc or some other networking alternative on a chrome book or do I have to bite the bullet and get another windows laptop?

You have a desktop at work you need to connect to?

Could you just bring it home (or have friend/coworker do it)?

Can your IT department set you up with a laptop, at least temporarily?

TeamViewer and all that works, but it's sorta slow and clunky. I use TeamViewer to remote in to other computers for Dealer support (and at home to run my music server from my tablet or phone) and for short periods it's fine. I'd go nuts if I had to work all day though a remote desktop. bad enough on the LAN in the office sometimes.

[Big Dave2]

Yes, I have a desktop at work that I need to connect to. Bringing it home won't help because I need to access the shared files on our server. I work for a very small company so we outsource any IT Needs.

So what do you guys think, should I get a windows laptop or follow through with my chromebook plan? I have been researching Chromebooks for a long time now and it would work great for all of my needs but if it won't work well to get me working from home then it will be useless to me right now.

Honestly I wouldn't mind getting a windows machine but I don't want to have to buy the Microsoft office products. I was hoping with the chromebook I could get by with googles applications and the built in word converter or whatever it is.

[aanderud]

My only problem with the chromebooks is that the low-end cost ones tend to be a bit too low on memory, storage, battery life, screen resolution, and CPU power, and to me just don't seem like a bargain when all of that is considered. If you spend more to get a better one, you might as well go windows.

Honestly I wouldn't mind getting a windows machine but I don't want to have to buy the Microsoft office products. I was hoping with the chromebook I could get by with googles applications and the built in word converter or whatever it is.

If you do end up with a windows laptop, you can still use the google apps (spreadsheet, word(like) documents, etc).

[fishnowworknever]

You can always buy a Microsoft/windows laptop and use OpenOffice (free).

I have no experience with Chromebooks and remote desktop apps so I can't offer advice there

You can still use googles free word doc application as well.

[upnorth]

With my job I telecommute a few days a week. Our place has the capability of doing a VPN(virtual private network for those that aren't familiar with it) and I have a laptop and or PC at home that I use to connect to the office. I also use a VDI (Virtual Desktop Interface) at the office that I need to use because some of the security rules setup on devices only allow connection from a few network subnets.

That all being said, running remote control software and working from a small form laptop is going to be a PITA if you do much work for any length of time. I would look at a econo laptop or desktop that has a better screen/mouse/keyboard. With prices the way the are now and what you would need to run most any remote control software you can go pretty low end for processor and memory and wind up better than a small form laptop or tablet.

Just something to think about, and maybe ask if your company is VPN capable on their firewall.

[Whoaru99]

Yup, VPN is where I was heading. The company I work for has gone to laptops for most office employees, and they have systems access via VPN.

In terms of PC vs. Chromebook, I'd go with PC if interfacing with company systems is your plan.

[rundrave]

Yes, I have a desktop at work that I need to connect to. Bringing it home won't help because I need to access the shared files on our server.

[Sandmannd]

My biggest concern would be the speed of the Chromebook and the size of the screen. Both are small. I would go with a windows machine, you'll be happier in the long run.

[delcecchi]

My biggest concern would be the speed of the Chromebook and the size of the screen. Both are small. I would go with a windows machine, you'll be happier in the long run.

Can you put an external monitor on a Chromebook?

The standard issue at the company I worked for was a laptop with a monitor and keyboard if needed. And a Linux box if doing engineering work.

A hundred bucks or so of external monitor would make working on a laptop/chromebook a lot more pleasant.

[LwnmwnMan2]

If you run Chrome as your browser, you can download Remote Desktop on each and access that way.

I used to use LogMeIn, have used gotomypc in the way back, and now just use Remote Desktop from Google.

It's free and works GREAT!!

[Sandmannd]

My biggest concern would be the speed of the Chromebook and the size of the screen. Both are small. I would go with a windows machine, you'll be happier in the long run.

[delcecchi]

Because a laptop still only has a 15 inch screen, A 23 inch screen is way better for actually working.

[Big Dave2]

Thanks for the help guys. My company ended up coming through and buying me a brand new laptop to use while I'm at home. This thing has a huge screen on it, probably the largest screen I've seen on a laptop. I'm back working again, yay!

[upnorth]

Good to hear it all worked out well Dave.