# Best way to demo software over the Internet

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-demo-software-over-the-internet/216351>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 1, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-demo-software-over-the-internet/216351 "2003-12-01T21:49:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-demo-software-over-the-internet/216351/1 "2003-12-01T21:49:00Z")

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Just looking for input and opinions on how to best demo software over the Internet. We are looking at using Sametime (a Lotus/IBM product), but since our company is still in it’s infancy it might be best if we can find a tool that is free. Also interested in what’s the best tool for this, taking into account cost, ease of use, set up for remote customers, etc.

Any input is greatly appreciated!

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**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-demo-software-over-the-internet/216351/2 "2003-12-01T21:55:12Z")

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Oops, I’d meant to put this in IMHO. Could a Moderator move this please?

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**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-demo-software-over-the-internet/216351/3 "2003-12-01T22:38:21Z")

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I’m pretty sure our company uses Sametime.

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**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-demo-software-over-the-internet/216351/4 "2003-12-01T22:55:01Z")

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I’ve been in meetings where netmeeting has been used, and also vnc. My impression is that I don’t want to touch netmeeting with a 10 foot pole, but that vnc works well and it’s free:

[http://www.realvnc.com/](http://www.realvnc.com/)

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**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-demo-software-over-the-internet/216351/5 "2003-12-02T00:11:05Z")

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Thanks, I found that Sametime is $22,000 plus a per user license, so out of our league for the time being. I’ve used Netmeeting, it’s pretty dodgy in the older release, but seemed okay in the more recent release, so that’s worth a look. And I’m going to check out VNC, which I hadn’t previously heard of. I especially like the price.