The Asus Eee Pad Transformer tablet and notebook keeps looking better and better. We’ve just found a demo of the Eee Pad Transformer which shows off the Asus MyCloud software. This built in software will allow you to connect to a Windows notebook or desktop and control the computer from the Eee Pad Transformer.

As you can see in the demo, the Eee Pad Transformer can be used as a portable notebook that works almost like you had a local copy of Windows on the Eee Pad Transformer. This is great news for users who have stayed away from the iPad due to a desire for a more full featured computing solution.

While there are remote desktop applications for the iPad, the inclusion of a mouse and keyboard in the dock really extends the usefulness over the not always intuitive mousing found in many iPad apps.

The Eee Pad Transformer arrives at numerous retailers on APril 26th in the U.S. and Canada for a base price of $399 for the 16GB model, $499 for the 32GB model and $150 for the keyboard dock that includes a battery.

If you want to know more about the Eee Pad Transformer, we suggest you check out the Eee Pad Transformer video roundup.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Includes Windows 7 Remote Desktop Connectivity (video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Remote Access is a powerful feature that has been a part of the Windows platform for a very long time now. One time though, this was only a feature available only to businesses that provided such functionality for Desktop Support and employee access to resources at the office. With the release of Windows XP, Microsoft introduced two technologies, Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance. Remote Desktop focusing on business use and integration with Microsoft technologies such as Terminal Services for providing so-called dumb terminal access. To break it down further, a dumb terminal provides access to resources managed through a centralized server accessed through a client computer with a Display, keyboard and mouse, there is no need for a physical PC like you would have on your desk at home.

Remote Assistance which I will be taking a look at in this article is geared towards the home user, although it is still useful in business scenarios for help and support technicians. Remote Assistance allows you to do a number of things:

• Ability to share your Windows 7 Desktop with another user
• Ability to share control of computer peripherals: Mouse and Keyboard
• Peer to Peer connection without a relay server, meaning, Remote Assistance works just as well with two computers over a LAN (Local Area Network) just as it would over the Internet (WAN).

Remote Assistance in Windows 7 introduces a new feature called ‘Easy Connect’ which simplifies the process of connecting to another PC remotely with only a password, no file needed. When a connection is established between both computers, contact files are exchanged which creates a trust relationship. This further simplifies future connections that are made without the need for a password. Lets take a look at inviting someone for help using Remote Assistance Easy Connect:

There are multiple ways of inviting and offering assistance, lets take a look at connecting from the Novice side and accepting from the Expert side.

Click Start, Type: Assistance

Hit Enter

Inviting a friend or family member for help (click to enlarge)

Helper password which you will tell the Expert to gain access to your desktop.

Once you have established your connection with the Expert who will be assisting you with your problem, the Expert will connect to your machine with the password generated by Windows Remote Assistance. Lets take a look at connecting from that side of the fence:

Using the Easy Connect wizard to help a friend or family member.

Enter the password generated by the person requesting assistance.

Your Windows Remote Assistance session will now begin:

The above screenshot shows the person viewing the desktop of the individual in need of help.

Both persons can initiate a chat session to help communicate and explain the problem

Requesting and granting control of your desktop

A person seeking help can share their desktop which will allow their friend or family to use the mouse and keyboard to help solve their problem. In this scenario, adacosta doesn’t know how to hide desktop icons, the Helper is showing them how to do so. (click image to enlarge)

You can quickly stop sharing your desktop by clicking the ‘Stop Sharing’ located on the Chat window.

Conclusion

Remote Assistance makes the troubleshooting experience on the PC seamless, taking away the lengthy phone calls typical of years ago in which you tried to explain what your PC is going through using psychic abilities to solve a problem or make a simple diagnosis. With Windows 7, Remote Assistance is even easier to use and help others.

Troubleshooting: If you experience problems trying to connect or invite, try these suggestions:

• Ensure that your network location is set to ‘Home’ in Network and Sharing Center’.
• Microsoft provides a tool for testing your router for Peer to Peer technologies such as:

  - Universal Plug and Play

  - Teredo (Network Address Translator)

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/using/tools/igd/default.mspx

Remote Assistance in Windows 7: Lending a helping Hand is even easier is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.