Home Forums Discussions General Discussion Laptop as main computer to bring home instead of using LMI

Instead of the slow speed and often impossible keyboard problems (using a Mac at home), perhaps having a good PC laptop with SSD that I can take home would be quicker than LMI. Any thoughts?

There is nothing wrong with that approach, but I would try LMI Ignition first, as it is *significantly* faster than the free service. Works well on Macs as well. We use both.

[and Linux/BSD as well, but that is another subject]

You would then have to download a backup to a USB, take it hope, restore from it, back it up again for work, then restore from it. If you have staff or partners at the office, you will have to restore before they enter data. I also think that backing up and restoring that often would lead to a problem at some point. Unless you are talking read only.

As Indy says, go with Ignition, and I am pretty certain that the pro version is faster.

Remember: Home to office (need license)
Office to home (do not need license)

There is also the security issue. Laptops make tempting targets. I use LMI from home quite effectively, and even reasonably well over a satellite internet connection from a remote site. I make sure the color setting is set to greyscale/B&W and it is nearly as fast as working at the office. The only downside to using it on a Mac from home is the inability to use Dragon. I think even that is possible if you use Parallels and run DNS under Windows from home, but I limit my home/office to small things like checking labs, so it has not been an issue.

I forget about that. David's right. I used to joke about the HIPAA police. Once of the largest fines was $30,000 for a fairly large clinic where an employee left his laptop in the car. At least encrypt the data.

Why don't you use remote desktop for Mac OSX?

I have several practices utilizing that with their Macs. A few even use the macbooks in office as well.

It's a lot better than LMI. Microsoft's official RDP App is here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=18140

Also CoRD is great client.

Using a mobile computer as the main is a huge security risk. Not to mention repairing them is a lot more difficult and expensive compared to desktops.

PM me if you want some assistance setting up remote desktop for OSX.

Thanks for the quick responses. I'll give it a try with remote and will follow up with the results.

Just checked MS RD and it doesn't support OS X 10.7 and later.
Guess I'll look into LMI ignition or pro.

I'm pretty sure it does. I set a practice up with OSX 10.8.X (Mountain Lion) just last week.

I'll try it for my MBAir, Sandeep.
I did subscribe to LMIpro for my Mac at home and it does move much more quickly (you obviously get what you pay for, Arbuckle) than the free version (surprise!).

I thought I said try the pro version?

It is the classic issue of it will run, but it will also break at intervals, and you need to go to the terminal, run top, find the process ID, and kill the process so that it will run again. You can also just restart the Mac, if you can get it to restart with the hung process.

Having used all of the options recommended on my 'road' mac, I would go with the LMI ignition for ease of use.

I typically use CoRD instead of Microsoft's client. It's standalone. Doesn't require installation.

What is the consensus on Log Me In versus Team viewer?

Bert, what do you mean about licenses in your comment above? Is that in regards to LMI?

mdcm72-are you logging into a server or PC at your office?

Yes, the LMI free version cannot be used in a commercial environment. You must upgrade to the pro version. Ironically, it is commercial when you access a commercial computer either commercial to commercial or private to commercial. It is not commercial, and therefore does not need a license if you access a private computer from a private computer or a private computer from a commercial computer. So, in short, you can't access a commercial (business) computer with the free version of LMI. I don't think I could have made that any more confusing, hence the previous sentence.

With TeamViewer and LMI, you can connect remotely with either. Both have a licensed version for commercial, although TV is quite a bit more. With TeamViewer, you must have client software on both local and host, but the benefit of this is being able to see each computer from each computer. TV, the free version, allows for file transfer which can be a big thing.

LMI doesn't need to be installed on the local computer only the host. This is nice so that if you have the software on your home computer, you can access it from any computer in the world with a browser. It also has LogMeIn Ignition which is a very nice feature, although with TV, you can run it from an executable file.

If you are using TV, you are always set for a support person, say Sandeep, to log into your computer and solve a problem. This can be done with LMI but it is an entirely different program like LMI Rescue.

I thought I would clear up a few things.

LogMeIn Free is actually free for commercial use. The company repeatedly takes the stance that it is completely free for commercial use. While it is difficult to find it stated in the Legal section, it is free. It just doesn't come with all the bells and whistles typically associated with remote access. For that, you will need to purchase the Pro version.

http://community.logmein.com/t5/Free/Logmein-free-for-commercial/td-p/50223
https://secure.logmein.com/welcome/get_logmein_free/why_is_it_free.asp

TeamViewer Free Edition is explicitly for personal use. If you are using it in a business application e.g. in the office, it is considered commercial use and will require to at least purchase the base license at $800. This does actually have a web access portal like LogMeIn. Though using the actual program on both sides is much more effective. Otherwise, it's similar to LogMeIn with the browser. TeamViewer is also capable of access over LAN so bandwith issues in office disappear.

Remote Desktop is Microsoft's proprietary remote access protocol that can be accessed across a variety of platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, OSX, and Linux. This one is also free for commercial use given that you have purchased a professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise Version of Windows. It is very bandwith efficient and has built-in encryption. (This is the main reason buying the professional editions is recommended for businesses as well as the ability to join domains.) However, it should be noted that this is not a "plug-and-play" solution. Typically a port must be opened on your firewall to allow access outside of the office.

There are other access methods including VMWare View, Citrix, VNC, and many more. PM if you want information regarding these.

Thanks Sandeep. Sorry to be misleading. I have heard both, and I have always gone by their Acceptable Use Policy. I suppose it is whether you go by omission or commission as it doesn't say you can and it doesn't say you can't.

In your first link from 2011, Mike Peadon states that "LMI Free will always be free as long as you keep your account." Now, it is free only for 10 PC's.

Difficult. Not there at all.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2031000/logmein-limits-freeloaders-to-10-pcs-so-what-.html

There is a 10-user limit. And, as one person states it couldn't be used commercially a ways back. I just say use it and don't worry about it. But, it will stop at 10.

That's true. The limit is at 10. I have the central now, but it's worth it for me. 10 Computers should be enough for the average practice. Usually you don't have to access every computer too.

We have used LMI Central for several years, as it allows us the ability to manage client environments globally, while also keeping everything (users, computers, servers) compartmentalized.

Some clients choose Pro for the features that it provides, most are fine with Free. LMI Ignition makes the performance and ease-of-use very affordable for individual Doctors.

Thanks for your input. I find that my office "main computer" to which I connect remotely is often so slow. When I reboot the Comcast modem and the router the speed returns to a usable level. Otherwise my typing is so much faster than the response on the other end that I might think about becoming a transcriber after I retire!

Perhaps I might try AC as an online app. My question in that circumstance is: can I continue to run AC in the office as a server/client arrangement and then use the online connection at home or elsewhere? Can my at home work be synced to the office server?

I have never had luck with the sync function in AC, recommend you still log in to the office from home.

I wouldn't take it home. Remote with LMI or RDP. Do you have to use Mac. Can you try it with a PC. Nothing against Mac. Just try that.

If possible, can you change your username with your actual name. It's hard to write. Thanks.

Keep in mind you don't have to remote to your "main" computer. Try logging into a different one. Same thing.

It would appear that my router was overheating and somehow slowing down my internet speed. I flipped upside down and placed on edge and things are better.

I will try using LMI with a PC from home.

That's good to hear. Thanks for the name change. Much better.