Simple videoconferencing for two
September 28, 2012 11:46 AM Subscribe
What is the best video conferencing setup for boss and I to talk about data remotely? More complete description of circumstances inside.
My boss is moving to another city and I'm not. I need to figure out the best way for us to continue meeting on a regular basis. I've been in a similar situation in the past, and we used a combination of skype and some desktop sharing product that i can't recall the name of. This was about 4 years ago, though, so I'm sure the options have changed and improved since then, and I wasn't involved in making decisions about the technology then anyway, so I don't really know what's out there at all.
Here are my circumstances/requirements:
-meetings will be at most once a week, maybe as little as once a month.
-for the time being, we will be the only two participants. it's conceivable that there could very rarely be someone else in the room with him.
-we need to be able to look at each other's faces and talk.
-I need to be able to show him data. This will most likely be in the form of a single powerpoint presentation for each meeting, but it would be nice to be able to dig up some random .tif or excel file from my hard drive and show it to him without too much trouble.
-It's not essential that he be able to show me anything in real time, but he often likes to sketch during our in-person meetings, so if there were some part of our setup that could emulate that, it would be a very nice bonus pony.
-A bit of money could be spent on this, but I'd rather just pay for something outright than deal with a subscription model if possible.
-We'll both be using Macs.
-He's not entirely comfortable with learning "new" technology. The more idiot-proof, the better.
-We don't need to record anything, and the things I show him don't need to be archived through our video conferencing setup.
Thanks for your help!
My boss is moving to another city and I'm not. I need to figure out the best way for us to continue meeting on a regular basis. I've been in a similar situation in the past, and we used a combination of skype and some desktop sharing product that i can't recall the name of. This was about 4 years ago, though, so I'm sure the options have changed and improved since then, and I wasn't involved in making decisions about the technology then anyway, so I don't really know what's out there at all.
Here are my circumstances/requirements:
-meetings will be at most once a week, maybe as little as once a month.
-for the time being, we will be the only two participants. it's conceivable that there could very rarely be someone else in the room with him.
-we need to be able to look at each other's faces and talk.
-I need to be able to show him data. This will most likely be in the form of a single powerpoint presentation for each meeting, but it would be nice to be able to dig up some random .tif or excel file from my hard drive and show it to him without too much trouble.
-It's not essential that he be able to show me anything in real time, but he often likes to sketch during our in-person meetings, so if there were some part of our setup that could emulate that, it would be a very nice bonus pony.
-A bit of money could be spent on this, but I'd rather just pay for something outright than deal with a subscription model if possible.
-We'll both be using Macs.
-He's not entirely comfortable with learning "new" technology. The more idiot-proof, the better.
-We don't need to record anything, and the things I show him don't need to be archived through our video conferencing setup.
Thanks for your help!
Go To Meeting has added the ability to use cameras to speak and view your user, IIRC. I've "seen" it but not used it.
posted by tilde at 12:27 PM on September 28, 2012
posted by tilde at 12:27 PM on September 28, 2012
If you have money to spend, the single very best thing you can spend it on is a high-quality, noise-canceling headset and microphone for each of you. Unless you're each in your own very quiet, private, offices, the improved sound quality will make your meetings SO much better. You'll be able to hear each other clearly without feedback or random background noises, and the meetings will just be so much nicer for that. There is no program or service that will do anywhere near as much to improve your meetings as clear audio, and believe me, I have tried many.
So far as the meeting tool, Skype does everything you mentioned above, including desktop sharing, and I find it easier to use than either Webex or Gotomeeting. Plus, it's free, and it's generally got the best audio quality of the common Internet-based services.
Desktop sharing will mean that you can show him slides and random files with little trouble. It's not quite as slick as some of the purpose-built tools, but you don't need to fuss around with pre-loading your content, either, and it's about as idiot-proof as they come.
He can either open up a draw program to sketch during the meeting and share his desktop or (my favorite method) sketch on paper and hold it up to the webcam. You can just printscreen to preserve his doodles.
posted by psycheslamp at 5:35 PM on September 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
So far as the meeting tool, Skype does everything you mentioned above, including desktop sharing, and I find it easier to use than either Webex or Gotomeeting. Plus, it's free, and it's generally got the best audio quality of the common Internet-based services.
Desktop sharing will mean that you can show him slides and random files with little trouble. It's not quite as slick as some of the purpose-built tools, but you don't need to fuss around with pre-loading your content, either, and it's about as idiot-proof as they come.
He can either open up a draw program to sketch during the meeting and share his desktop or (my favorite method) sketch on paper and hold it up to the webcam. You can just printscreen to preserve his doodles.
posted by psycheslamp at 5:35 PM on September 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
join.me is free screen-sharing
Google Talk (now Hangout, I think) allows screen sharing
Skype has screen-sharing and paid Skype allows multiple users.
posted by jander03 at 5:30 PM on September 29, 2012
Google Talk (now Hangout, I think) allows screen sharing
Skype has screen-sharing and paid Skype allows multiple users.
posted by jander03 at 5:30 PM on September 29, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
I find that you don't need to see the actual head of someone, when you can talk and review a document at the same time. Why do you think you need that functionality? If you do, either of the above meeting services can provide that using the embedded camera in your PC.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:59 AM on September 28, 2012