Apple Remote Desktop vs. ISL Light

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.

Incentivized

If a colleague needs reliable, fast, easy to manage and easy to learn remote support software, then this is it. If you need a remote support app that just installs and works, it literatlly can be set up in seconds. Open, offer remote support, get code and send it to the other side. The only time I would not recommend ISL Light is if my colleague need remote connect software just to connect to one non essential machine - like home media computer. For that I would suggest some free software. But as soon you need to connect to couple of computers or much more that ISL Light would be the only recommendation.

• 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

• Allow remote control of Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
• Automatically record support / remote sessions
• Allow UAC easy control remotely
• Auto-recognize the OS of the client, to download the correct remote file for them to execute
• Very fast connection speed (initial connect, and on-going session speed)
• Allowing us to use our own website AND the islonline.net in case there are issues

• 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

• I would like the chat not to get in the way during the sessions, although it is something not so important if it could be seen better.
• Something in the design does not look so modern, I would like its interface to look more attractive.

We use it on a daily basis and works well in our environment and could see how other Apple owned organizations would benefit.

Incentivized

We are renew the license for 10 years now and we do not see why would change that. It just gets better with every new version.

The user interface is amazing. You don't have to dig in to look for options. It's not overwhelming and yet a powerful utility.

Incentivized

Web portal as well as the mobile apps are simple to use interfaces. Nothing daunting about them at all.

Apple support is great.

Incentivized

We had issues with mouse skipping on mobile devices. Support is immediatly availabe, they examined our case and in one of the new versions of the app this problem was gone.

Very quick and easy install with no real issues

Incentivized

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.

Incentivized

- Biggest turnoff for TeamViewer: The different version (Connection doesn't work if there are different versions running) - No password or such things needed, just a code which is automatically generated - Easy Modus to see UAC-Windows and complete administrative tasks - Stay connected even after a restart - Wide range of options and customization - Easy Interface and super maneuverability

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

• Saves time: able to help our customers right-away. No need to visit them physically
• Fastest aid in problem-solving: customer happy and more likely to return
• Negative: not much negativity about ISL Light, although I get even less in-person contact with clients :-)