Apple Remote Desktop vs. GoToMyPC

I would rate this higher if I was confident that Apple is continuing to develop this utility. It has only received minor updates for quite a long time, and is not featured much in any of Apple's online material. It really is a useful utility, but it is starting to show its age and is fraying a bit around the edges in some respects. It could be very useful when integrated with the various MDM solutions (in our case, Jamf Pro) especially when an engineer needs to force something immediately and can't wait for a check-in, and also can't depend on the end user being able to (for instance) do a sudo jamf policy or sudo jamf recon.

Incentivized

I think GoToMyPC is well-suited for any scenario I have encountered, although I only have experience using it in a small firm setting. Otherwise, for working from home and traveling or file retrieval, it has proved more than adequate. I have not encountered a scenario that I thought was less than appropriate.

Incentivized

• Automator Actions: This is a very cool feature and cost saving as it reduces human effort by automating the workflow of tasks.
• Curtain Mode: This lets you block your local user's view of the desktop while performing administrative tasks.
• Spotlight Search: It can perform lightning fast searches on machines using the spotlight search feature of OS X and thus saves a lot of time.

Incentivized

• I am able to easily access both of my home monitors on GoToMyPC by simply clicking on a slider bar.
• I have access to all of my drives and programs as if I were sitting in my office.
• GoToMyPC allows me to print to my office printers so I can complete paperwork and print it for my colleagues back in the office to use.

• 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.

Incentivized

• Transfer or copy files from the computer drive (c drive) to your active desktop file folders.
• The ability to set your own "Time Out" too often I have to log back in if switching between computer screens.
• Easier way to print documents to printers not connected to the computer being accessed.

Incentivized

It is a fairly unique tool in the level of integration it has with Apple Desktop products. It definitely needs some engineering attention, and it should be expanded to the iOS arena. It is not perfect, but it is very useful and fills an otherwise fairly empty niche in the support toolkit realm. The built-in screen sharing app in macOS handles the direct screen control or viewing function fairly well, but it does not have all of the other mass control features that Apple Remote Desktop supplies.

Incentivized

I have been using GotomyPC for 20 years and it's gotten better with time. It's the best remote app that I've tried. The others were harder to use and not as functional. It allows us to work from anywhere just as if we were in the office. Even being able to print to my remote location is a wonderful way of doing work. I don't have to drag it to my remote device, It will just print without any hassle

Incentivized

Once it is set up, it is quite straightforward to use. However, currently, it requires both a script to run to set up permissions and controls, AND a command from the MDM to authorize it to be active. The MDM management command is manual. This is not conducive to an automated workflow, and sometimes gets forgotten. Then, the endpoint is not contactable until someone realizes that the MDM command was not sent or was not successful.

Incentivized

Really easy to use-even if you forget your password frequently like me. The reset password feature is not cumbersome and does not require phoning Customer Service. Just a few clicks and a bit of creativity to come up with a new password. I like this "easy button" approach. Definitely recommend.

Incentivized

I've never had a problem unless the host computer itself is having an issue - such as being off line.

Everything loads quickly. The only lag has been when our internet provider didn't fix our connection. Once that was resolved, no problems.

When i have needed support it was for Hardware not the software itself

Incentivized

I have never had to contact support. The product is so easy to use I have not needed help (yet). But if I had to contact them, I am sure they would be just as great to work with as the product itself is.

Incentivized

Very quick and easy install with no real issues

Incentivized

It set up quickly and assigning log ins to various computers was simple. I don't think you need many insights into the product. It's easy to implement and easy to use. Since it's a work tool, it needs be that way. I wouldn't want the tool to have any learning curve when some of the people using it are not tech savvy. They are accessing their work computers for files or to work on apps that their remote devices might not have loaded.

Incentivized

I would feel much more comfortable having one of these alternative solutions as our Remote Desktop management tools. Each has their drawbacks and expenses associated with them, but we simply have too large of a deployment to not be considering alternatives. If it is the only solution you can afford, it is OK to start here. I could see where this would have a return on investment, but it is really only suitable for a very small and localized scale. If employees are at all mobile, the duct taping of products necessary (VPN, distribution points, script repositories) would be very cumbersome.

Incentivized

I recently started having problems with Splashtop - slow response/freezes/drops, and after troubleshooting everything
internet and hardware related, decided to check out GoToMyPC as one step
in troubleshooting. GoToMyPC has better response
time and has been more reliable. So far I am pleased with the switch with just a couple of minor matters mentioned earlier in review.

Incentivized

I can use it on all of my devices - even my Galaxy phone. Once you log into your device, you work on it as if you were physically in front of it. Not much complexity in that. If you can work on your own device, you can work on it through another device - even a phone.

Incentivized

• 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.

Incentivized

• Increased productivity since I can access remotely
• Ability to use my laptop making my desktop a mobile workstation
• Ability to provide answers at closed-door meetings about budgeting, expenses, invoices without needing to leave the room to look it up on my desktop.