Have you ever needed to operate a PC when you’re not sitting in front of that particular computer? You can, using free software called VNC (Virtual Network Computing). Once you install the VNC server on a computer, you can control it from any other computer on the LAN (local-area network). If you have a full-time Internet connection, you can even access that PC from any other computer on the Internet. You can use VNC to adjust the computer in the den from your office or to retrieve an important file from your home computer when you’re out of town. The two computers don’t even need to run the same operating system: You can access your Windows PC from a Mac, Linux PC, or even a PDA. Download the free software from RealVNC.