Review: Logmein Ignition remote access software

Logmein’s free remote access software is an easy way yet to access your PC when you’re away

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Price: £25 approx ($49.95) per year or £5 approx ($9.95) per month

Manufacturer: Logmein

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Verdict

Pros: Superb ease of use; entirely self-contained; built-in security
Cons: Many will be perfectly happy with the web-based service
Overall: Logmein Ignition makes a supremely easy and convenient service even easier to use and more convenient

Paul Monckton, Personal Computer World 05 Apr 2007

The regular Logmein service is accessed via your Web browser. Once you’ve set up the service on the PCs you want to access, you can sign in from anywhere to connect to them with a single click.

Depending on the level of service you’re signed up for, you’ll be able to perform tasks such as remote control, file transfers, chat and comprehensive remote diagnostics.

With Logmein Ignition, you no longer need to use your browser to sign into the service. Nor do you need to remember your account details for your remote PCs.

Logmein Ignition installs a small software application onto a USB flash drive. When you insert the drive into your PC, the auto-run system starts up Logmein Ignition automatically.

A small window then pops up, listing your remote computers, which can be accessed immediately. User names and passwords are stored on the USB drive in encrypted form and protected by your global Logmein password.

If you wish, you can configure Logmein Ignition to connect immediately to your preferred remote PC so you don’t even need to select it from a list. All you do is plug in the USB drive and your remote desktop will appear with no further intervention required.

Since Logmein Ignition is a software product, all it requires is some form of storage space. You could, if you wish, install it on your hard drive in the normal manner. However, it’s the ability to operate as a portable application that makes it so useful.

You can take it with you wherever you go, plug it in and use it without having to install any browser-based plugins or leave any browsing history on the guest computer.

Any form of writeable storage will do, so Instead of a dedicated USB flash drive you could use an mp3 player, a PDA or a digital camera.

Logmein's remote access has always been extremely quick and easy to use - and this, somewhat ironically, is the biggest problem with Logmein Ignition. It’s designed to speed up and simplify what is already impressively fast and simple. The entry-level Logmein subscription, which comes without file transfer, is free to use, so it’s hard to imagine users of this service paying a subscription for the added convenience of Logmein Ignition.

Those who upgrade to Logmein Pro, will be paying an annual subscription of $69.96 (£35 approx) per PC and Logmein Ignition would add a further $49.95 (£25 approx) to that price – a significant sum.

Still, the best way to find out if Logmein and Logmein Ignition suit your needs is to sign up for a free Logmein account and a 30-day trial of Logmein Ignition.

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