It also comes as a result of an easy-to-use technology that lets me access my computer from anywhere just as if I were in my home office, RealVNC remote computing.

There is nothing new or cutting-edge about remote network computing ... products like these started to make an appearance circa 1985.

But about a year ago, with airline hand baggage restrictions getting tighter, I was getting quite fed up with lugging a laptop computer through airports.

Then I went through a stage of putting my work on a stick drive, which admittedly was a lot lighter, but inevitably there were always one or two files that didn't make it on to the stick and I'd be stuck.

Then my IT guy suggested installing RealVNC on Strive's desktops. This is a free remote control software that lets you interact with all your desktop applications across the internet.

The company was founded by some of Cambridge University's greatest minds in computer science and now has a global user base from individuals to the largest multi-national companies.

There are versions of the product for each distinct group of users. So it's tried and true technology that can be used with little risk.
From a user perspective, RealVNC is simplicity itself.

You click on an icon, type in a password and a picture of your desktop appears and you can use your home computer just as if you were sitting in front of it.

Speed-wise you are limited by your internet connection, but it's a small price to pay for such convenience.

The two computers don't even have to be the same type, so for example you can use VNC to view a Windows Vista desktop at the office on a Linux or Mac computer at home.

There is even a Java viewer, so that any desktop can be controlled remotely from within a browser without having to install software.

In addition, RealVNC allows for collaboration by letting many people connect to a computer at the same time. We haven't used this feature yet, but it seems to me that it could be helpful for editing and in collaborating with designers, other creative services and in staff training.

It's also a boon for my IT guy. He uses VNC to take control of the machines of Strivers around the world to diagnose and fix problems. It's almost effortless.

VNC uses the TCP/IP protocol — the networking standard of the internet.

It runs over LANs, WANs, broadband ISP, and dial-up. And with some of the premium versions you can run across the internet without compromising protection because the product supports strong encryption and authentication protocols.

Even the free version provides password protections and IP filtering, but if you are depending on the internet, without a VPN for connection, it's best you don't use the free VNC to access sensitive information.

Now RealVNC isn't the only game in town for remote computing. Webex is a real contender and I've used it to run web seminars in the past. But it has a couple of limitations.

First of all it's not open source, so therefore not free — a big drawback for a small company. Then there is the problem of using Firefox as your browser. You need to download a number of applications to make it work well ... who needs the hassle?

Other front runners include Citrix's GoToMyPC and Semantec's Windows-centric PCAnywhere, but both come with a hefty price tag and aren't as easy to administer.

So when I need a Very Nice Connection or seem to be on Vacation Nearly Constantly or if I want to Virtually Nag Colleagues, it's RealVNC for me.

» Sherrilynne Starkie is the managing partner at Douglas-based Strive Public Relations, a virtual communications consultancy serving the Island's tech sector. She provides her views on business and technology, and the business of technology, each week in Tech Talk. Visit her business blog Strive Notes for frequent updates.

www.strivepr.com