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Can Soluto turn you into a long-distance tech-support hero?

Version 2 of Soluto's "anti-frustration" software launches today, offering a free service you can use to help manage and update Windows PCs remotely. It's a clever idea. Want to help me with my review? I've got invitations for early access.
Written by Ed Bott, Senior Contributing Editor

The last time I checked in with Soluto, the company had just launched the first iteration of its “anti-frustration” software for Windows.

Now, roughly a year and a half later, version 2 is ready for its debut. I’ve been following the product’s development over the past few months and had a chance for some early hands-on testing ahead of the public launch today.

If you want to take a look for yourself, keep reading. I’ve got an invitation code at the end of this post.

The new Soluto release expands the charter of the initial product, making it possible for IT pros and enthusiasts to provide some essential support services for friends, family members, and clients using Windows PCs.

As a Soluto administrator, you can add your own PCs and those of others to your circle. Here's what an invitation looks like on the recipient's end:

eb-soluto-invite2.png

A small agent on the client PC collects information about installed apps, updates, and crashes and feeds the data to Soluto’s servers. As administrator, you can send instructions back to a client to make sure that Windows and installed apps are updated properly, and you can see at a glance whether a PC has been experiencing problems. You can also see a basic hardware inventory and spot issues like overheating or a runaway fan. Any instructions you send are queued so that they can be applied even if the client is currently offline.

The Soluto updater is based on Ninite’s infrastructure, which I already know and enthusiastically recommend. The agent and management interface seem lightweight and cleverly designed—at least in my limited testing.

As launches go, the timing of this one couldn’t be better. Many of you will be heading home for the holidays, where Mom and Dad and Cousin Stevie will be asking you to help them fix problems with their Windows PC. In addition to helping fix immediate problem, Soluto can give you the ability to help out even after you return home.

I need to use the new service for a few more weeks before I can offer a full verdict and I would love to have your input as well. If you’re interested in signing up and testing the free service, go to http://www.soluto.com/newstuff and use the code edbottsentme. You can leave your feedback in the Talkback section below or privately, using the Contact link next to my bio at the bottom of this post.

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