Hi all,
It's not that I don't like Denver International Airport, but one can have too much of a good thing. ;> In short, I'm researching software that would allow me to teach remotely. I've found GoToMeeting.com, which is great: easy and reasonably priced. You just create a meeting, it gives you the call-in number and URL, and you just mail that to the people attending the meeting. I've just used it a few times but I really like it so far.
However, while it supports Windows and Mac clients, it doesn't support Linux clients.
So I'm asking for recommendations. Have you used a screen-sharing software that supports Linux clients, for meetings, training, or other group-based events? Did you like it enough to recommend it? Do you want to recommend that I not use a particular application?
Thanks,
Solveig
Hi, it really depends on your needs. I mean you can do easy desktop sharing over the internet by doing VNC. However the problem is that if you are in a big company they might probably use some a firewall to block the port.
You also have solutions like NoMachine.com which is NX tools to share your distribution. You get to choose if you want actual management of the desktop or just view-only and asign different passwords regarding the level.
We use vino (from gnome) on conferences because that allow us to have a well bright room. No more dark presentators.
Also depends on the audience, and the network, if you are sharing your screen over the internet with 10 different people, this might have a heavy load on your network trafic. So it might be detrimental while Go to My PC seem to take that load away from you.
Finally there are also pre-recorded sessions which you can us 'recordmydesktop' and upload them to youtube.
Posted by: JZA | July 31, 2007 at 11:34 AM
Hi JZA,
Thanks! I'll look into that.
There's also the possibility that I simply ask Linux users to scrounge up a Windows laptop or desktop to work on....though of course I'd rather find a Linux solution.
Solveig
Posted by: Solveig | July 31, 2007 at 02:57 PM
Solveig, check out WebHuddle and Vyew. Also check out the HP Virtual Rooms and WebEx; I think one or both may have Linux compatibility. See http://facilitatedsystems.com/weblog/2007/07/we-must-be-doing-something-right.html for a link to David Woolley's site, which has a wealth of information.
Posted by: Bill Harris | July 31, 2007 at 03:49 PM
Hi Bill,
Thanks! Sounds like just what I need.
Solveig
Posted by: Solveig | July 31, 2007 at 04:51 PM
Check TightVNC ( http://www.tightvnc.com/ ) it has enhancements for windows to improve it's speed as the source of the screen share.
Also clicking on the VNC related software ( http://www.tightvnc.com/related.html ) has links to several VNC related software packages that allow proxying (specifically look at vnc reflector) which will reduce the load on the source system by putting the load to the proxy to handle all the clients.
Posted by: Edward Rudd | July 31, 2007 at 09:38 PM
Hi Edward,
Thanks, I'll check it out!
(Just guessing from your last name that you've got some ancestry that's as Norwegian as mine.)
Solveig
Posted by: Solveig | July 31, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Hi Solveig,
Yugma is a cross-platform solution that works like a snap with Linux as well as Mac and Windows. We're also completely free when hosting up to 10 people! Check us out at http://www.yugma.com
Austin
Yugma
www.yugma.com
Posted by: Austin | August 01, 2007 at 08:41 AM
Hi Austin,
Thanks, I'll check it out! "Works like a snap" sounds appealing.
Solveig
Posted by: Solveig | August 01, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Here is a quick resource that might point you in the right direction:
http://labnol.blogspot.com/2005/11/desktop-screen-sharing-software-for-e.html
PS: WebEx uses Active X (IE: Internet Explorer). I haven't tried Active X under Firefox; allegedly it exists.
Posted by: nix | August 01, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Hello Solveig,
Things are VNC and NX are great unless you want to teach more than one person. That's why Yugma sounded attractive to me when I read the suggestion from Austin at Yugma -- so I went ahead and tried it. Sadly, the desktop sharing functionality, which you would need, doesn't currently work with Linux. Too bad. Looks like an interesting and attractive product.
-- Marcel (Writer and Free Thinker at Large) Gagné
Posted by: Marcel Gagné | August 03, 2007 at 01:57 PM
Solveig,
From the looks of things, Zoho Meeting (meeting.zoho.com) works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. A friend of mine has used it and likes it a lot, and you can't beat the price.
Posted by: Roy Jacobsen | August 09, 2007 at 05:46 AM
A quick check of the FAQ for Zoho Meeting seems to indicate you have to have Windows if you're the presenter. They are working to extend that to the Mac; they make no mention of extending that to Linux.
I don't know which of the others have similar restrictions, but I have seen it in other tools, too.
Posted by: Bill Harris | August 09, 2007 at 05:13 PM
Hi Roy, Bill,
Thanks for the tips. I *might* be OK with being on Windows as presenter if it turns out to be the best....though the icons are so different that this would be a disadvantage for some clients.
Posted by: Solveig | August 10, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Hi Marcel,
I definitely do want to teach more than one person; I'm envisioning mass free webinars, slightly less mass classes, plus of course tutoring. Too bad about Yugma.
NLX, thanks for the link!
Solveig
Posted by: Solveig | August 10, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Hi,
I'm sorry to answer so late.
Just have a look at iTALC - Intelligent Teaching And Learning with Computers at http://italc.sourceforge.net which is FOSS.
By the way, I love your blog !
JFL
Posted by: JFL | August 17, 2007 at 07:37 AM
Hi JFL,
Thanks! I'll check it out.
Solveig
Posted by: Solveig | August 18, 2007 at 08:08 AM
I was checking out the web just today with a similar question and ran into a java based solution. From the looks of it, it would do what you want, and the clients only would need a java based browser:
https://cooldesktopshare.dev.java.net/
I will see if I can check it out myself, but if anyone has any experience....
Posted by: Carl | August 24, 2007 at 05:30 AM
Just checked it out, had some issues with the plugin, but, on my MEPIS box, in combination with KDE remote desktop sharing, this works GREAT!!!!
Thought you might wanna know....
Posted by: Carl | August 24, 2007 at 11:30 AM
http://www.dimdim.com/opensource
"dimdim’s mission is to become the leading provider of open source web meetings"
Posted by: Gouchi | November 12, 2007 at 01:05 PM
Thanks!
Solveig
Posted by: Solveig | November 12, 2007 at 01:13 PM
Solveig ..indeed gotomeeting.com is a great tool for conferencing solutions....But regarding its Linux and Unix compatibility its http://www.gomeetnow.com which might servers your needs better. It provides multi-functional web conferencing for PC & Mac. Its universal attendance technology ensures that everyone can join the meeting with NO DOWNLOAD whatsoever, supporting attendees on Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix, or iPhone. Can also be used for remote PC access.
Posted by: James | March 28, 2008 at 01:56 AM
Thanks, I'll check it out! So far the pricing looks reasonable....I have tried zoho and spreed but with some glitches.
Solveig
Posted by: Solveig | March 28, 2008 at 09:41 AM