Download at the service's website.
Pros: This program runs fairly quickly, most anyone can join a session which is not the case for many free and low cost desktop sharing services. Fortunately, you just click on the link, download the one file and you're up and running almost instantly. It's a great tool for fast and easy desktop sharing. You can record the session in a proprietary BS4 format that doesn't allow you to redistribute or incorporate the screen recordings in other video.
Cons: The first big con is that if you start a session, and your participants take more than 10 minutes to join you, the session disappears. This is virtually crippling if you're using the product to help a newb computer user. While they fumble through "What's a browser? How do I enter a key?" you lose the session and have to start all over. Fortunately, you can recreate a new session easily. But, you're left to explain to the user how to key in the new session ID. This feature is a big problem. The proprietary video recording format is a pain. All of the desktop sharing companies seem to do this in some misguided sense that they're offering a secure screen capture (or entrap you to use their proprietary services to view the captures). It makes them useless for training purposes.
I saw NO EVIDENCE that is works with Mac, regardless of what their website says. In my Mac test, the links constantly loop to download a file over and over. Typically, these services don't test their products with Macs. I'm left to assume this is the case with Mikogo.
It's lacking in flash and pizazz. Nobody seems to do low-cost synchronized voice and screen sharing well. If you need audio, you'll have to use something else. If you want instant messages back and forth, it's not integrated into this system. There appears to be no liberal options for the recording process and because it doesn't sync audio there's only the screen itself. It would be nice if it stored it in some simple universal AVI for easier sharing and rebroadcast would also be a nice add-on.
Overall it's worth what you pay (remember, it's free) and much more. It's the smoothest desktop sharing utility we've reviewed so far.
One of the nicest features is that you can just click to copy the link directly to the session and IM or email it to someone. And, it works.
Mikogo is a great tool for sharing your desktop, free! When you send someone a link to the session URL (web address) they log in and the share begins. There are some nice features and you'll find it worth the investment (remember, it's free).
Logging into Mikogo requires you to first obtain an account. Just click on Register Now to register your new account. It's free.
Next, you'll create your account by typing in the credentials. Just type in your name, email address and your email address will be your username.
You'll see a thank you page, and your email will contain a relevant link. Next, check your email.
Your email will contain a password they generated for you and a link to log into your account.
There, you will download the program. When you ask someone to join a session, they too will be required to download a small program.
Just pick somewhere to save the file so you can easily find it.
Once you retrieve the file, just run it. You can usually choose this option when you download the program or later double click on the file you've downloaded.
Once it's installed and running, you will see a little M icon on the corner of the screen. If you click or hover it will allow you to choose to start a session or change the settings.
You have several options in settings.
You can pick different programs to show or hide. You can also choose the quality of screen appearance.
You have several start options. Read these carefully.
Some people have weird proxy settings in their network. If you don't know, it's probably not important to change these settings. It's best to leave them alone.
The support tab allows you to contact support (though not very useful for the free service) and update the program.
