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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GoToMyPC
Score 8.7 out of 10
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GoToMyPC is a remote administration offering from GoTo (formerly LogMeIn) with mobile deployment to work on files, programs, and networks from home or while traveling.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
The performance is dictated by the internet connection speed. As long as I have a good connection, the performance is great. And GoToMyPC has a warning when either the host or the client has a poor connection
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
