I do wish the price of this would come down - I use Chicken of the VNC, which is free, but is a bit of a bear to set up. I just can't see, however, paying $299 for this - as much of an Apple freak that I am.

I'm a Mac SysAdmin and use ARD and OS X Server to admin and work with Macs in 5 different cities over hundreds of miles. Well worth the money. They paid for themselves quickly. My travel expenses are near zero. I'm able to take the bus into work instead of driving. I only drive for the occasional hardware setup.

After I started putting on the weight form not leaving my desk, I started mountain biking during lunches.

The Windows/Novell SysAdmins are envious.

Rock on!

This is great software for administrators of Mac networks. It would be wonderful to see a less expensive alternative for those of us who simply want to help their remote 83 year old mothers when they get stuck, or any new user. Explanations over the phone from a novice, and phone-directions to them are very challenging.

Here are a couple possibilities that would be grand to see from Apple:
1) an ARD-lite with 2 or 3 users for a lot less money;
or (even better):
2) an enhanced iChat that would include desktop sharing (viewing and permitted control). This would be a highly useful feature, which is part of various other virtual collaboration tools. This would be great for Apple support personnel too.

In reply to:<hr />
Actually, the price is more than reasonable when you consider what Apple Remote Desktop actually does.

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Sure, for a business network, it's probably great. But many Mac networks are HOME networks of 2, 3, 4, maybe 5 systems, and while central management would be an enormous advantage $300 is just way too much to be justifiable.

I'd love to be able to use it at home, but I don't need 10 computers, and I have many far more compelling uses for $300. I really wish they'd cut the price (at least) in half for a 5-desktop maximum to match the limits (and better fit the price restrictions) associated with the Mac OS X family edition package.

Of course, Apple has a perfect right to be uninterested in my money. That doesn't mean we can't wish it were otherwise.