Study Notes: Remote Assistance in Windows Vista
I really like both Apple’s and Microsoft’s approach to remote assistance — but for different reasons. Apple wins hands-down for ease-of-use and integration with their remote-reporting and software update environment called Apple Remote Desktop (which can be purchased in 10-seat and unlimited-seat licenses). They also get double-bonus points for iChat (their AIM client), which can share a user’s screen in a video chat session — this is a great tool in the consumer environment for fixing grandma’s Mac, or showing her how to configure her new printer.
But Microsoft made some good choices in improvements since their Windows XP version.
Rather than rehash what has been written by techs smarter than me on the subject, I’m going to just provide a short list of links here to the articles that were most helpful as I dug into this topic for my day-job. Give this tool a spin as soon as possible — your users will appreciate it!
Windows Remote Assistance (Wikipedia.org)
Windows Vista’s New and Improved Remote Assistance (WindowsNetworking.com)
Saving the Day with Remote Assistance (WindowsSteamBlog.com)
How to use Remote Assistance in Windows Vista (VistaArticles.com)
Windows Remote Assistance: frequently asked questions (Microsoft.com)
What is the difference between Remote Desktop Connection and Windows Remote Assistance? (Microsoft.com)
Windows Vista Remote Assistance: Under the Hood (MSDN.com):
Vista search shortcuts for keyboard jockeys:
- ‘msra’ for remote assistance
- ‘mstsc’ for remote desktop
Make a handy shortcut for your users with syntax found here: Vista – Offer Remote Assistance Shortcut (JDBousch.blogspot.com)
Parting shot: Need to screen-share between disparate platforms, across off-network, non-related subnets? We know of quite a few happy (and cheap) customers of YuuGuu.com, which is not fast, but does work — and you definitely get more than your money’s worth!
