Comments on: Webinar Services – GoToWebinar vs DimDim

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:05:18 +0000

With freebinar which is now anymeeting you can download but you cant edit as it is a file that is then only able to be uploaded to your server for viewing – so you do get a backup of your webinars

The biggy I believe is all the ads that are displayed all the time. (which they have to do because it is free)

From all of the top internet marketing guys I have been told that they ALL record using camtasia irrespective of what webinar platform they are using
Carol

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 03:03:57 +0000

Hi David,

I am reading this blog post a while after it was first put up and that is because I joined your Blogging Boss program last week and came across your davidwalker.tv blog. It is fascinating.

Anyway, the two options mentioned are good ways to go…but are a little pricey. GVO has come up with an equal if not better service for only $8.97 a month and it comes with a Free 7 Day Trial.

Yes, I do use this service myself and I am very happy with it..

You can get the free trial here: http://knight.gvoconference.com/
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By: Paul Teague

Paul Teague — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 07:36:24 +0000

Hi David, I use a piece of software called MaxiVista Viewer with GoToWebinar: http://www.maxivista.com/how.htm I use it because I don’t have a bespoke dual monitor system, so I run it across two laptops and makes them work like dual monitors.

This has never affected my sound at all and may well provide you with a temporary solution.

Another free webinar solution to mention here is Freebinar which is – in my view – much neater that DimDim with the massive disadvantage (unless I missed it!) that you can’t download your webinar replay … so it’s hosted on their servers, and if they folded, you lose your back catalogue of presentations.

I’d recommend Freebinar over DimDim with that one frustrating exception.

Cheers, Paul
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By: Griff Wigley

Griff Wigley — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:12:38 +0000

Great to see this informed, albeit, frustrated group of commenters here!

I’ve had GoToWebinar for 2 months and have done 6 webinars thus far. I generally like their feature set but ran into the encoding problem of the archived webinar, as others have noted here. I solved it with info in Glenn’s blog post:
http://glenndcitrix.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/edit-and-re-encode-your-recording-with-this-single-free-application/

I just do the encoding with Microsoft’s Expression Encoder 3 and then drop that file into Camtasia.

My current problem is that I need webcam capability for myself at one or two presenters. So that’s why I’m investigating DimDim and how I found this blog post and comment thread.

Megameeting got the #1 rank at:
http://webinar-services-review.toptenreviews.com/

and it requires no java install for the audience. It’s kinda pricey for the webcam option, tho, which brought me to consider DimDim. I got a free trial this week on the DimDim Pro 100, which is priced fair, IMHO. But the recording capability is very important to me so now I’m back to square 1 and investigating other services.
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By: Dominik Lukes

Dominik Lukes — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:34:29 +0000

David, the GTM/W audio recording quality is awful (and still hasn’t been addressed). I solve it by recording on a third machine (logging in remotely) using the Virtual Audio Cable (http://software.muzychenko.net/eng/vac.htm – works like a charm despite the sketchy-looking website). This allows me to get all contributors’ audio at the higher quality.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:50:20 +0000

Some interesting posts here, what seems clear is that there is no obvious ‘best’ option.
My problem is with the requirement to download software to the client PC. Many of our target audience will be accessing the webinar from computers that are locked down and therefore will be unable to do this. Other than DimDim can anybody recommend other products that do not require client download?
Thanks

By: Lysette

Lysette — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:54:56 +0000

Hi everyone,

I agree with Glen and Matt.

I’m appalled by the price that GoToWebinar charges. It’s very expensive.

I’ve recently switched to using a Mac and I’m still paying the same fees for half the features.

and why doesn’t it support Mac? Are they in cahoots with Microsoft?

I’m surprised that GoToWebinar doesn’t support the usual things you embed in Keynote and PowerPoint, such as music and hyperlinks. Will this always be the case with online seminars? Is it a permanent limitation of technology (surely not?) or is it something that will evolve?

GoToWebinar seem to have cornered the market and it’s quite easy to use, but I’m also on the lookout for cheaper and better options.

Thanks everyone for a lot of helpful suggestions on this subject.

By: Mario

Mario — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:05:31 +0000

My last two seminars with GoToWebinar were disastrous. The problem was the audio and recording of each. One did record, but did not render. It took over three hours to research and render so that it could be audited in Camtasia and converted to MP3. The next seminar lost audio for the first 10 minutes. When I could begin, it recorded only about 10 minutes of the actual webinar. The rest was lost. It was a two hour seminar. Now I must re-record it for the attendees; my day is shot and it will never sound as spontaneous as it did at the initial webinar. I cannot afford the time required to fix their problems. I pay $99 and must then spend countless hours rendering and re-recording. However, I need alternatives. I no longer want to support GoToMeeting. Even though they apologize very nicely, they do nothing to solve the problems. Arghhh!

By: Matt Wolfe

Matt Wolfe — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:25:11 +0000

Hey David,
Thanks for doing the analysis of the two companies. I’m not sure if you’re on a Mac or a PC but you forgot to mention one thing about GoToWebinar… They hate Mac owners. Whether you’re on a PC or a Mac, they charge the same price. However, if you’re on a Mac, they have about half the features.

I’m still on my 30 day trial but I will never pay for GoToWebinar while they refuse to support Macs. You don’t even have the option to record the webinar if you’re on a Mac. You don’t get drawing tools if you’re on a Mac. You can’t share individual programs on a Mac. And I don’t believe they have dual screen support for anyone using a Mac.

I don’t have much confidence in DimDim but I’m going to have to give it a try because GTW has decided to complete slap Mac owners in the face.

Matt
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By: Glen Wayne

Glen Wayne — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:15:10 +0000

GoToWebinar used to charge $99 per month for 1000 attendees. Now the same semi-bad service is a whopping $499 per month for 1000 attendees on a webinar. I am really appalled at this crazy price increase by Citrix.
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