WebEx PCNow remote access not convincing
02/04/09 Filed in: Apple
While looking for a simple way to remote control both family PCs and Macs, I tried out the Cisco owned WebEx remote control software. Unfortunately it was nothing but problems, at least as far as MacOSX was concerned.
Although it offers a nice web management interface, invitations by email, a low monthly fee (at least for the 2 concurrent computer version) the simplicity stops there.
The first problem I had as a new user was finding the login page for existing clients. I somehow kept ending up at the wrong page. So I contacted their online help and waited and waited... kind of at a restaurant where the waiter is ignoring you (I think they must be poorly managing multiple help sessions) and after reminding the agent that I was still waiting they slowly started to help. Finally they could not find the login page either and recommended that I call their support line.
Again, I tried to use the online help chat and again I found myself chatting things like “Hello, is anyone there?” more than the problem. Finally the agent did say that they were busy and asked me to wait... better at least than not answering at all. However, as soon as I asked about a mac they said I needed to call.
Next I tried to do an email invitation to a Mac. The mac’s owner couldn’t get the weblink to work and finally just gave up. A few days later I was able to get access to the mac and tried the email invitation myself... only to find that the automatic installation advertised does not work for the MacOS. Instead, each MacOS system must be manually installed.
So, everything is installed, my web management panel is aglow with 2 green connected icons for my computers I can access and I feel all is well. However, a few days later the Mac user is complaining about problems with their Mac that started about the time I installed PCNow. Sure enough, checking the console logs, PCNow is regularly crashing all over the place.
So, while WebEx seems to have a good Windows solution, the Mac side seems more marketing than reality. I think the PC in their name should have given me a hint but I bought in to the marketing all over their site.
Although it offers a nice web management interface, invitations by email, a low monthly fee (at least for the 2 concurrent computer version) the simplicity stops there.
The first problem I had as a new user was finding the login page for existing clients. I somehow kept ending up at the wrong page. So I contacted their online help and waited and waited... kind of at a restaurant where the waiter is ignoring you (I think they must be poorly managing multiple help sessions) and after reminding the agent that I was still waiting they slowly started to help. Finally they could not find the login page either and recommended that I call their support line.
Again, I tried to use the online help chat and again I found myself chatting things like “Hello, is anyone there?” more than the problem. Finally the agent did say that they were busy and asked me to wait... better at least than not answering at all. However, as soon as I asked about a mac they said I needed to call.
Next I tried to do an email invitation to a Mac. The mac’s owner couldn’t get the weblink to work and finally just gave up. A few days later I was able to get access to the mac and tried the email invitation myself... only to find that the automatic installation advertised does not work for the MacOS. Instead, each MacOS system must be manually installed.
So, everything is installed, my web management panel is aglow with 2 green connected icons for my computers I can access and I feel all is well. However, a few days later the Mac user is complaining about problems with their Mac that started about the time I installed PCNow. Sure enough, checking the console logs, PCNow is regularly crashing all over the place.
So, while WebEx seems to have a good Windows solution, the Mac side seems more marketing than reality. I think the PC in their name should have given me a hint but I bought in to the marketing all over their site.
0 Comments