Web Conferencing Tools (A summary)

Based on the research on both conferencing programs, Net Meeting offered as a free program for both home and business as well as having the offer similar capabilities as WebEx superceeds its opponent. However it appears that WebEx is a more robust program which supports multiple platforms (PC & Mac Operating systems) is a plus for wider range of audience.

Based on a review from ticker.com, NetMeeting has the following limitations. (1) Program chashes quite often with shared application. (2) Supported only on Windows 2000 and (3) Security is average. Thus the program is great on a small scale basis where users can communicate live over text based chats, voice, video, and use of whiteboards. NetMeeting works great for educational institutions where budget is a constrain. WebEx offers a higher security support sharing or exchange files and it is better suited for larger corporations or organizations.

About 2 years ago, I personally had the opportunity to experience WebEx as a learner. I really liked the online meeting capabilities where both voice and text based chats are supported. Voice was supported both via microphones and telephones. The instructor was able to speak to the whole group of students via the phone. (There must of course be organization where everyone won't be speaking together at the same time).

Another feature that caught my attention was the use of shared application. The instructor (from PA) was able to view and control my applications after I released permission to access my computer! I can see why security is so important. Likewise we were able to view the instructor's computer applications during demos sessions. Also, I have found that the product was better supported on a PC environment as opposed to the Mac.

I did try installing NetMeeting (Window XP service pack 2) but was not able to run the application. Again, I recalled running this application several years ago when it was first introduced. I was able to communicate via real time chats with my dad in Malaysia, however at that time there was time lag during communications. The program also crashed often.

Web Conferencing Tools (A comparison of features)

Microsoft Net Meeting

WebEx

Feature Listings

  • Video and Audio Conferencing
  • Live Chat
  • Internet Director
  • File Transfer
  • Program Sharing
  • Remote Desktop Sharing
  • Security Net Meeting
  • Advanced Calling (Email & built in address book)
  • Whiteboard
System Requirements listed by Microsoft
The following are the minimum system requirements to install and run Microsoft NetMeeting.
  • 90 megahertz (MHz) Pentium processor
  • 16 megabytes (MB) of RAM for Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me
  • 24 megabytes (MB) of RAM for Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 (Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 or later is required to enable sharing programs on Windows NT.)
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.01 or later
  • 28,800 bps or faster modem, integrated services digital network (ISDN), or local area network (LAN) connection (a fast Internet connection works best).
  • 4 MB of free hard disk space (an additional 10 MB is needed during installation only to accommodate the initial setup files).
  • Sound card with microphone and speakers (required for audio support).

To use the data, audio, and video features of NetMeeting, your computer must meet the following hardware requirements:

  • For Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me, a Pentium 90 processor with 16 MB of RAM (a Pentium 133 processor or better with at least 16 MB of RAM is recommended).
  • For Windows NT, a Pentium 90 processor with 24 MB of RAM (a Pentium 133 processor or better with at least 32 MB of RAM is recommended).
  • 4 MB of free hard disk space (an additional 10 MB is needed during installation only to accommodate the initial setup files).
  • 56,000 bps or faster modem, ISDN, or LAN connection.
  • Sound card with microphone and speakers (sound card required for both audio and video support).
  • Video capture card or camera that provides a Video for Windows capture driver (required for video support).

Feature Listings

  • Video and Audio Conferencing
  • Live Chat
  • Application Sharing
  • File Tranfer/exchange
  • Browser Sharing
  • Remote Desktop Sharing
  • Security
  • Advanced Calling (Email & built in address book)
  • Internet Phone & regular phone support
  • Whiteboard
  • Meeting Calendar

System Requirements (Client side)
Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP
Intel Pentium, 166 MHz
32 MB RAM
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, or Netscape Communicator 4.x
JavaScript and cookies enabled
56K Internet connection

System Requirements (Client side)
Mac OS X or later
PowerPC Macintosh G3
64 MB RAM
Virtual Memory on
Netscape Communicator 4.5 through 4.7, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 5
JavaScript and cookies enabled
56K Internet connection
QuickTime installed

Cost on Server side
(Source:http://www.kolabora.com/reviews/)

  • Cost of WebEx's "pay-per-use" conferencing product is 45¢ per minute per person, plus another 10¢ per minute for the audio conference call. Placeware has a "pay-per-use" product that is 35¢ per minute per person plus the telephone bridge.
  • Basic event meetings cost $27 per hour per person plus $1,500 for the "Event Production Specialist" that is used to set it up and operate the meeting, plus $600 to $1,500 per event for Registration Services.
  • So a 100-seat one-hour event starts at $4,800. Their 10-seat product costs $750 per month, not including voice.

 

 

Webex/Microsoft NetMeeting (Source:http://www.amrcc.com/pdtt/collab.asp) Miscellaneous Similarities

  • Work with many types of software.
  • Relatively inexpensive.
  • Don't require participants to have a license.
  • The host computer must continuously refresh the bit-mapped display of the remote computers. This activity slows interactive performance and makes the remote application appear sluggish.
  • Conference participants don't have access to the application data.