Remote Desktop vs Netmeeting ?

[- Bobb -]

I got a phone call from family in FLA for Pc help and we're both on
Comcast. I was just checking to see what they need to do on their XP Pro
laptop for me to use Remote Desktop to help them.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c08621675.mspx#EFG
I've read KB's at MSFT and related messages here and feel REALLY stupid,
but have to ask. I view the REMOTE PC as the "holder of the info that I
want to retrieve". If I am in Boston and trying to access a PC in Miami,
I ASSUME that the local PC (mine - as in LOCAL TO ME) is in Boston -
right ? So they need to do quite a bit in order for me to connect. They
aren't computer savvy ( seems I'm not either by asking, huh? ) and it
seems that setting up Netmeeting would be much easier for them. Why
Remote Desktop instead ? I can do Remote desktop/support over a public
internet ( not just via VPN) ?

 

[- Bobb -]

I got a phone call from family in FLA for Pc help and we're both on
Comcast. I was just checking to see what they need to do on their XP
Pro laptop for me to use Remote Desktop to help them.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c08621675.mspx#EFG
I've read KB's at MSFT and related messages here and feel REALLY
stupid, but have to ask. I view the REMOTE PC as the "holder of the
info that I want to retrieve". If I am in Boston and trying to access
a PC in Miami, I ASSUME that the local PC (mine - as in LOCAL TO ME)
is in Boston - right ? So they need to do quite a bit in order for me
to connect. They aren't computer savvy ( seems I'm not either by
asking, huh? ) and it seems that setting up Netmeeting would be much
easier for them. Why Remote Desktop instead ? I can do Remote
desktop/support over a public internet ( not just via VPN) ?

While looking online for answers I came across my similiar question from
last year - same things apply today as then:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...5366d751200/c510f859aedb2ec5#c510f859aedb2ec5

 

[Elmo]

I got a phone call from family in FLA for Pc help and we're both on
Comcast. I was just checking to see what they need to do on their XP Pro
laptop for me to use Remote Desktop to help them.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c08621675.mspx#EFG

I've read KB's at MSFT and related messages here and feel REALLY stupid,
but have to ask. I view the REMOTE PC as the "holder of the info that I
want to retrieve". If I am in Boston and trying to access a PC in Miami,
I ASSUME that the local PC (mine - as in LOCAL TO ME) is in Boston -
right ? So they need to do quite a bit in order for me to connect. They
aren't computer savvy ( seems I'm not either by asking, huh? ) and it
seems that setting up Netmeeting would be much easier for them. Why
Remote Desktop instead ? I can do Remote desktop/support over a public
internet ( not just via VPN) ?

You can talk them through a Netmeeting connection.. Here's what you do
the first time:

- Click Start, Run, type CONF, click OK.

- Go through the one-time Setup Wizard, filling in first and last names,
email address, and deselect "Log on to a directory server when
Netmeeting starts".
Just click your way through the audio tuning wizard, unless you want to
use them too.

- Then Netmeeting will start. One of you will have to email the other
your ip address. Here's a few ways to get that:

1. In NM, click Help, About Windows Netmeeting. The IP address is
there, but if it starts off 192.168. that's the wrong one, and you have
a router.

2. Go to whatismyip.com and copy/paste your ip address.

3. Click Start, Run, type CMD, click OK. Type IPCONFIG, and press
Enter and you'll see the IP address.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Now starts the common, everyday desk-sharing routine:

- Send the IP address.

- Recipient types it into the top pane, clicks the hone icon.

- After the connection is made, "host" clicks the low left icon, which
looks like a hand holding a window.

- Click Desktop, click Share. Click "Allow Control" button.

- You request control (an option at the top of the window with their
desktop display), they accept in the prompt that pops up, and you have
control. You can then click View, Full Screen and you'll see nothing
but their desktop on your screen.

hth,

 

[- Bobb -]

Thanks very much, so you agree:
Netmeeting IS a lot easier than Remote Assistance/desktop ?
I'll have them do that, thanks. btw ...
On the Remote Assistance 'help page' I read:
Notes -
- Both you and your assistant must be using either Windows Messenger or
a MAPI-compliant e-mail account such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook
Express.

Why is that ? Is that for the "text window" as in Netmeeting ?

 

[Elmo]

Thanks very much, so you agree:
Netmeeting IS a lot easier than Remote Assistance/desktop?

Having never used RD, I can't really compare them. NM works on all W95
and later machines, but you need to update W95 and possibly early W98
machines to the latest version.

I'll have them do that, thanks. btw ...
On the Remote Assistance 'help page' I read:
Notes -
- Both you and your assistant must be using either Windows Messenger or
a MAPI-compliant e-mail account such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook
Express.

Why is that? Is that for the "text window" as in Netmeeting?

That may be so you can log onto a server. I just use the personal ip
addresses' I don't want the wrong live video suddenly thrust upon an
unsuspecting user.