Apple Remote Desktop (ARD), from Apple, is a remote administration tool for managing Apple computers running OS X across a network.
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FixMe.IT
Score 4.5 out of 10
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FixMe.IT is a cost-effective remote support application that is designed to enable instant, secure, and trouble-free connections between remote computers anywhere in the world. The vendor's value proposition is that with FixMe.IT, support teams can quickly and securely view, diagnose, and resolve technical issues on a remote computer without pre-installing software.
For a small deployment of macOS, I can see where Apple Remote Desktop could suffice. I can see where a company that is strapped for cash could benefit from a knowledgeable employee using it to automate some tasks. I am not comfortable giving an estimate number-wise. For a large deployment of macOS or iOS, this would be a very inappropriate tool. There are far too many obstacles for an app like Apple Remote Desktop to successfully manage a large fleet of macOS computers or really any number of iOS devices. You simply need an MDM solution in this day and age. This will become increasingly necessary, even in small numbers, but MDM providers have started to provide solutions for customers in these situations.
FixMe.IT is an absolute price-performer. Far less expensive than many of its competitors, it offers all the major features small outfits like mine need. While not nearly as robust as other offerings such as TeamViewer and GoToAssist, its price point simply can't be beat. Thus, small consulting firms that primarily deal with Windows-based PCs will see a huge cost benefit. Larger MSPs are probably better off with a more expensive but flexible solution.
Option to follow users' mouse if they have more than one screen but you are only using one screen to display their computer. It allows them to show you things without fighting for the mouse or having our view of their screen be too small.
Lightweight. The app for on-demand remote controll, unattended access, and even the expert are all very small and not resource intentsive
I would like to see more included Unix scrips that can be pushed to clients.
Inclusion of a way to remote control or screen share with Windows machines would be useful, as I manage a handful of Windows machines. While this would be possible using VNC on the Windows machines, including the ability to connect using Windows terminal connections would be awesome, for me.
Not sure if we are able to display multiple screens at the same time. For example the server and some workstations. I know we can click back and forth easily, but not sure if we can display them at the same time.
It is all just done through email so there is no tracking of tickets but there is not much need since they will respond multiple times a day if needed. I never have any issue with them though. They are very well trained.
I use TeamViewer with users who are having trouble connecting to the VPN. I think TeamViewer is a good alternative when ARD isn't working. However supporting the number of users we support, TeamViewer can come with a pretty hefty price tag.
Apple Remote Desktop has a positive return on investment because for the expense to the school, the value it brings to teachers is important. The return on improved student performance is very difficult to measure financially, but there is a definite return.
The overall objective of education is to increase student learning, ARD does that phenomenally. Parents see the tool used and are impressed at what the capabilities of the tool can do and how it impacts how active their students are as well as how well they can learn.
One negative impact is that teachers rely too much on this tool rather than on actually teaching sometimes.
