Has anyone used Web-ex for remote conferencing?

[Joerg]

Ok, a client wants to do a net meeting on Web-ex. Never done it with
that provider so I gave it a test, they offer a "test meeting" to make
sure that PC and browser are up to snuff.

First it wanted Java enabled. Ok, done. Then it started loading some
stuff and the "progress" bar said 8 minutes (!). This is a modern
dual-core PC with tons of memory on a >1MB/sec internet link. Is Web-ex
really that slow or could soemthing be wrong here?

 

[Joerg]

I just did a 2+ hours conference call this morning to Australia via
Skype. It went so well I'm going to now look into Skype's video
capabilities.

Well, I've got to use what the client does. The other thing is that
we'll have to look at numerous documents simultaneously during the
conference. I am not sure whether Skype can do that. Seeing each other
won't be important for us. At least I hope it won't be, else I'd have to
install a web cam and stuff here.

I always wonder what the catch is with Skype. They say it's free but as
we all know there ain't no free lunch. Maybe except for LTSpice.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Well, I've got to use what the client does. The other thing is that
we'll have to look at numerous documents simultaneously during the
conference. I am not sure whether Skype can do that. Seeing each other
won't be important for us. At least I hope it won't be, else I'd have to
install a web cam and stuff here.

I always wonder what the catch is with Skype. They say it's free but as
we all know there ain't no free lunch. Maybe except for LTSpice.

It costs money if you need to connect to the PSTN. Skype-to-Skype is
free.
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Rich Grise]

It costs money if you need to connect to the PSTN. Skype-to-Skype is free.

Well, the free software is right there, but when I went to look into the
rates for Skype-to-ground, it asked me to sign up.

And I don't really know whom I'd call anyway - everybody I know has email
^
[ghaw, sometimes it's uncomfortable being an inflexible grammarian! ;-) ]
or is right here in the shop. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Joop]

Ok, a client wants to do a net meeting on Web-ex. Never done it with
that provider so I gave it a test, they offer a "test meeting" to make
sure that PC and browser are up to snuff.

First it wanted Java enabled. Ok, done. Then it started loading some
stuff and the "progress" bar said 8 minutes (!). This is a modern
dual-core PC with tons of memory on a >1MB/sec internet link. Is Web-ex
really that slow or could soemthing be wrong here?

I have used it a year or two ago. We logged a problem with
Siebel/Oracle and one of their support people wanted us to demo what
the issue was. Webex allowed us somehow to share the windows desktop
over the Internet.

On another occasion we used the webex recorder. That creates some kind
of video of all actions you do on your PC. The recorded session can be
played later.

It was not too much of a hassle I recall. But I have not used it for a
while. I don't think it was appearing slow.

Cheers,

Joop

 

[Joerg]

I have used it a year or two ago. We logged a problem with
Siebel/Oracle and one of their support people wanted us to demo what
the issue was. Webex allowed us somehow to share the windows desktop
over the Internet.

On another occasion we used the webex recorder. That creates some kind
of video of all actions you do on your PC. The recorded session can be
played later.

It was not too much of a hassle I recall. But I have not used it for a
while. I don't think it was appearing slow.

Well, tried it again. It took over 5 secs just to launch the demo
meeting and then it loads the whole meeting software. Again. 8 minutes
left ... trundle, trundle, trundle. I would have thought Cisco could do
better than that. Nah, not my cup of tea. So I'll just log in 15 mins
before the client to get through that dreaded loading of Java in time.

I found the pricing a tad steep as well. Somewhere on their site I read
33c/min/participant. That's a lot more than Missy Bell charges for
overseas calls.

 

[Charlie E.]

Ok, a client wants to do a net meeting on Web-ex. Never done it with
that provider so I gave it a test, they offer a "test meeting" to make
sure that PC and browser are up to snuff.

First it wanted Java enabled. Ok, done. Then it started loading some
stuff and the "progress" bar said 8 minutes (!). This is a modern
dual-core PC with tons of memory on a >1MB/sec internet link. Is Web-ex
really that slow or could soemthing be wrong here?

Hi Jeorg,
Yep, it is that slow. Takes a long while to get all the programs for
that application. The bad news is, it ain't secure. Back when I was
at Cadence, they quit using WebEx and when to Space Cruiser for the
same functions. Spacecruiser is encrypted in its links.

Charlie
Edmondson Engineering

 

[Joerg]

Hi Jeorg,
Yep, it is that slow. Takes a long while to get all the programs for
that application. The bad news is, it ain't secure. Back when I was
at Cadence, they quit using WebEx and when to Space Cruiser for the
same functions. Spacecruiser is encrypted in its links.

This one?
http://www.oridus.com/products_prof_spcim.htm

Not a lot of info, looks like one of those high-priced software
packages: "For SpaceCruiser Trial and Download, please contact Oridus
sales team"

Maybe Webex changed security. The lock indicator on the browser comes on
when you enter the meeting, at least it did for the test meeting. Just
like when doing online orders.

 

[Martin Riddle]

| Ok, a client wants to do a net meeting on Web-ex. Never done it with
| that provider so I gave it a test, they offer a "test meeting" to make
| sure that PC and browser are up to snuff.
|
| First it wanted Java enabled. Ok, done. Then it started loading some
| stuff and the "progress" bar said 8 minutes (!). This is a modern
| dual-core PC with tons of memory on a >1MB/sec internet link. Is Web-ex
| really that slow or could soemthing be wrong here?
|
| --
| Regards, Joerg
|
| http://www.analogconsultants.com/
|
| "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
| Use another domain or send PM.

Lots of companies use Web-ex. works well. Ofcourse you need the java package to get it to work.
perhaps their servers were busy.

I also was on a www.gotomeeting.com webinar, which worked just as well.


Cheers

 

[Joerg]

| Ok, a client wants to do a net meeting on Web-ex. Never done it with
| that provider so I gave it a test, they offer a "test meeting" to make
| sure that PC and browser are up to snuff.
|
| First it wanted Java enabled. Ok, done. Then it started loading some
| stuff and the "progress" bar said 8 minutes (!). This is a modern
| dual-core PC with tons of memory on a >1MB/sec internet link. Is Web-ex
| really that slow or could soemthing be wrong here?
|
| --
| Regards, Joerg
|
| http://www.analogconsultants.com/
|
| "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
| Use another domain or send PM.

Lots of companies use Web-ex. works well. Ofcourse you need the java package to get it to work.
perhaps their servers were busy.

Then they should get more server capacity. It wouldn't be cool if it
bogged down in the middle of a meeting.

I also was on a www.gotomeeting.com webinar, which worked just as well.

I am surprised how much competition is out there. But it's pricey. For a
small biz that doesn't do more than 1-2 short meets a month $39/mo or
$49/mo is a lot. Wonder why ISPs or web site hosting companies don't
offer some basic virtual meeting capability, maybe at per minute fees.

 

[Charlie E.]

This one?
http://www.oridus.com/products_prof_spcim.htm

Not a lot of info, looks like one of those high-priced software
packages: "For SpaceCruiser Trial and Download, please contact Oridus
sales team"

Maybe Webex changed security. The lock indicator on the browser comes on
when you enter the meeting, at least it did for the test meeting. Just
like when doing online orders.

Yes, that is the one. It worked pretty well, but I have no idea on
the costs associated.

I could be that Webex enhanced the security. I just know that, since
we deal with a lot of DoD customers, we couldn't use Webex at the
time...

Charlie

 

[Joerg]

Something is wrong. I have had many Webex meetings, usually on a
T1 (shared with the rest of a 20-person company) and a dual 1MHz
Xeon machine with 2GB of RAM, and they ran quite fast.

You might try it on the latest FireFox 3 beta; it is quite stable
and runs like a bat out of hell. You also might want to look at
your dedicated firewall, if any. I have seen situations where
some virus or spammer is pounding away at a firewall, the firewall
rejects all the bad stuff, making it invisiblento you, but it still
eats up a bunch of bandwidth and CPU on the firewall.

The firewall is HW and would show me any pounding. None there. Well,
I'll just see how it goes.

 

[JosephKK]

The firewall is HW and would show me any pounding. None there. Well,
I'll just see how it goes.

An Internet firewall that is purely hardware? You embarrass yourself.

 

[Joerg]

An Internet firewall that is purely hardware? You embarrass yourself.

Nope, it's the sensible thing to do. Of course it runs firmware and
there is additional protection on the PC side. A HW firewall is the only
way I'd connect to the web since I do not trust any Windows OS in that
respect. All it takes is one security whole and the best firewall SW on
there is essentially toast.

 

[JosephKK]

Nope, it's the sensible thing to do. Of course it runs firmware and
there is additional protection on the PC side. A HW firewall is the only
way I'd connect to the web since I do not trust any Windows OS in that
respect. All it takes is one security whole and the best firewall SW on
there is essentially toast.

I knew you would respond correctly. Unlike that other poster, whom i
expected better of. In my arrangement the ISP provides the first
level, the modem provides some more, and my top level router provides
yet more. Running Linux adds to that. I have a lot of hosts blocked
as well.

 

[Klaus Kragelund]

Ok, a client wants to do a net meeting on Web-ex. Never done it with
that provider so I gave it a test, they offer a "test meeting" to make
sure that PC and browser are up to snuff.

First it wanted Java enabled. Ok, done. Then it started loading some
stuff and the "progress" bar said 8 minutes (!). This is a modern
dual-core PC with tons of memory on a >1MB/sec internet link. Is Web-ex
really that slow or could soemthing be wrong here?

I have used WebEx a couple of times and have no complaints. It was
fast and installed quickly. I think you must have some kind of SW
problem on your PC.

With respect to security my impression was that it is a point to point
connection and that WebEx controls which users are on via the m eeting
list, so it is very secure. Is that a wrong assumption?

Regards

Klaus

 

[Joerg]

I have used WebEx a couple of times and have no complaints. It was
fast and installed quickly. I think you must have some kind of SW
problem on your PC.

Well, we did the conference yesterday and I was not the only one having
problems. IMHO Webex really needs new software and procedures. Those
would be my main gripes:

a. It requires the loading of some Java that takes minutes. I was hoping
that joining a sample meeting would get that done for good so it doesn't
have to load again and again when the real meetings begin. Nope, must
load again every time :-(

b. It did not let me on before the meetings start time, and even then
not before the client had logged on. Meaning we had to waste several
minutes of everyone's time. Not efficient at all.

c. The client had my document uploaded because it was the item to be
talked about. It's a very long one and neither I nor any other
participant could scroll past page 9 but that's were the schematics
started. At that point we all hung up on Webex, loaded the document onto
our individual desktops and did the discussionn the old-fashioned way.

For the next meet I'll suggest to go without such online services
because it just wastes our time. I annotate lengthy docs with paragraph
numbering so it's easy to run the meeting "blind", via a good old phone
conference.

With respect to security my impression was that it is a point to point
connection and that WebEx controls which users are on via the m eeting
list, so it is very secure. Is that a wrong assumption?

I think you may be right. When joining the meeting the browser's
"locked" indicator comes on and it is also a https URL. But: Right after
I tested the site before the meeting I got an email from a sales guy. I
replied asking about safety. Didn't get a response other than a sales pitch.

I wonder whether this would be a good market for Skype. The technology
should be there. It would be ok if they'd charge for the service. But
not 33c/min/participant, that's a bit steep.

 

[JosephKK]

Well, we did the conference yesterday and I was not the only one having
problems. IMHO Webex really needs new software and procedures. Those
would be my main gripes:

a. It requires the loading of some Java that takes minutes. I was hoping
that joining a sample meeting would get that done for good so it doesn't
have to load again and again when the real meetings begin. Nope, must
load again every time :-(

b. It did not let me on before the meetings start time, and even then
not before the client had logged on. Meaning we had to waste several
minutes of everyone's time. Not efficient at all.

c. The client had my document uploaded because it was the item to be
talked about. It's a very long one and neither I nor any other
participant could scroll past page 9 but that's were the schematics
started. At that point we all hung up on Webex, loaded the document onto
our individual desktops and did the discussionn the old-fashioned way.

For the next meet I'll suggest to go without such online services
because it just wastes our time. I annotate lengthy docs with paragraph
numbering so it's easy to run the meeting "blind", via a good old phone
conference.



I think you may be right. When joining the meeting the browser's
"locked" indicator comes on and it is also a https URL. But: Right after
I tested the site before the meeting I got an email from a sales guy. I
replied asking about safety. Didn't get a response other than a sales pitch.

I wonder whether this would be a good market for Skype. The technology
should be there. It would be ok if they'd charge for the service. But
not 33c/min/participant, that's a bit steep.

It seems to me that it is MSwin paradigm oriented, and they are "cusp"
technology (or at least think they are). The biggest issue is that
same quality equivalent FOSS technology requires doofiii to allow
"strange stuff" into their ideologies.

 

[Klaus Kragelund]

KlausKragelundwrote:


Well, we did the conference yesterday and I was not the only one having
problems. IMHO Webex really needs new software and procedures. Those
would be my main gripes:

a. It requires the loading of some Java that takes minutes. I was hoping
that joining a sample meeting would get that done for good so it doesn't
have to load again and again when the real meetings begin. Nope, must
load again every time :-(

b. It did not let me on before the meetings start time, and even then
not before the client had logged on. Meaning we had to waste several
minutes of everyone's time. Not efficient at all.

c. The client had my document uploaded because it was the item to be
talked about. It's a very long one and neither I nor any other
participant could scroll past page 9 but that's were the schematics
started. At that point we all hung up on Webex, loaded the document onto
our individual desktops and did the discussionn the old-fashioned way.

For the next meet I'll suggest to go without such online services
because it just wastes our time. I annotate lengthy docs with paragraph
numbering so it's easy to run the meeting "blind", via a good old phone
conference.


I think you may be right. When joining the meeting the browser's
"locked" indicator comes on and it is also a https URL. But: Right after
I tested the site before the meeting I got an email from a sales guy. I
replied asking about safety. Didn't get a response other than a sales pitch.

I wonder whether this would be a good market for Skype. The technology
should be there. It would be ok if they'd charge for the service. But
not 33c/min/participant, that's a bit steep.

With respect to WebEx, they claim to have fast connections world-wide,
but your case could be an indicator of them having a problem on the
american net.

Rarther than uploading a document, just share the desktop. Then the
speed of the document roll up and down is only determined by the PC
that has the document. Moreover only information send is the screen
capture, and that resolves fast when the immage is freezed.

Regards

Klaus

 

[Joerg]

With respect to WebEx, they claim to have fast connections world-wide,
but your case could be an indicator of them having a problem on the
american net.

Rarther than uploading a document, just share the desktop. Then the
speed of the document roll up and down is only determined by the PC
that has the document. Moreover only information send is the screen
capture, and that resolves fast when the immage is freezed.

That's the scenario that I had hoped for. However, they did not even let
me into the meeting without loading this slow meeting manager Java
stuff. Completely takes the fun out of it. At least they could offer to
let it reside on individual PCs after having used their demo meeting to
see if things work. But no :-(

IMHO they could use some fresh IT talent and they should definitely
listen to users. For example send out a request after a whole group
became fed up and abandoned a session like what happened in this case.