For anyone whose work follows them wherever they go (and whose doesn't?), a remote access solution is an easy sell. With a remote access tool, as long as your office computer is switched on it can be reached from home, your home computer can be reached from the office, and both can be reached from your cousin’s home at Delhi or wherever else you happen to be at the time. Remote access means nothing ever gets left behind, except maybe your laptop.

Best of all, a good remote access tool doesn't have to cost you a single Rupee. There are plenty of good free tools available, and some of them are downright excellent. In this roundup, I examine seven of the most popular free remote access tools available for Windows users. Listed in the order that we would recommend, these are:
1. Remote Desktop Connection
2. RealVNC
3. LogMeIn Free Edition
4. TeamViewer
5. WinRemotePC Lite 2009
6. Gbridge 2.0
7. DESKTRA Freedom Desktop 1.1

Many of the free tools listed here also have paid versions that offer additional features (such as support for remote printing) or licensing (extra host computers or clients). For some users with complex requirements, the paid version will be the only true option. Over the next few slides, you will see each of the above tools dissected for their plus and minus points.