Apple Remote Desktop vs. RemotePC

ARD for me is based on a LAN, but can be used over WAN via VPN, but the latency makes ARD a less ideal tool. There are other cross platform tools that can do what ARD does which to me add value when managing a mixed environment

Incentivized

Being able to use my office computer from any other computer with the RemotePC software seamlessly. Having the ability to control and access software and hardware just like working from my office computer. On the other side, the printing capabilities can be improved to allow for better remote printing. Otherwise the system works very well

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

• Easy setup, Within minutes of Installation I was up and running
• Security - OTP 2-Factor authentication, passed security testing.
• Performance - Though I have not fully pushed the boundary it performs as if I was sitting at my desk at home from an Android tablet in the parking lot of work.
• Value - We all have taken a gamble when buying a product. This is one of the purchases that I am actually happy with. It is a great value for what you get.

• It's onsite only without setting up a VPN or some other form of remote network access.
• It can be a little slow sometimes when compared to local access.
• It seems to be a neglected product by Apple and not continually developed.

Incentivized

• long waiting time to initiate connection compare to competitors
• total lack of keyboard translation between macOS - Windows. No keyboard configuration options at all. I don't recommend macOS users, and non-english keyboard layout users.
• Key combination transfer doesn't work or behaves strange

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 still find value in this tool. If I needed to increase computers supported, I would need to revaluate pricing concerns.

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

At this point I have no issue with RemotePC's overall usability. It continues to meet my needs for what is required for me to run my business. I would like to see continued improvements with RemotePC's allowing me to continue to work remotely. Waking or starting the computer would be a plus.

Incentivized

I've never had to get support for ARD, so I can't give a real opinion.

Incentivized

None, very easy to setup and install.

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

Its just easy to use and does exactly what is advertised. There is nothing complicated about it. If you need access to your home PC from anywhere in the world on a computer with a browser or a smart phone, you now have it for a super low price

• 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

• Zero friction remote access on demand
• Very competitive priced
• Saving 2 hours travel time per session
• Saving 30 min reporting per session

Incentivized