Please Bring Back Cross-Platform Consistency
I'm just echoing a plea by many paid users whose primary support platform is Linux.
One of the very great attractions of TeamViewer for me in the past as an independent IT administrator was the fact that it was so full-featured, performed extremely well, and best of all, functioned identically across Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms.
Also, the past purchase model for licensing rather than a subscription model was a win too. I didn't mind shelling out $700 for a license and would have happily paid for upgrades from there, had the user interface consistency been maintained.
So much for the myth of a lifetime license. Sigh.
But from starting with TeamViewer 12, it seems as if Linux had to take a back seat on new features that appeared in the Windows version. For one example, consider Remote Notes, which is extremely handy ... if you're doing support from a Windows platform.
I hope with TeamViewer 13, there will be a real and successful effort to match features and interface consistency once again across all platforms.
But it may be a moot point for me, because with the new subscription model for pricing, it's a real stretch for me as a sole proprietor to find TeamViewer to be worth the expense. I can see how it makes sense for enterprises, but it leaves we independent support specialists out in the cold.
TeamViewer is a great product, with the caveat about Linux, but there are plenty of lower-cost and even free alternatives that do almost as much.
So c'mon, TeamViewer, get back in the driver's seat as the best of the best. As a former software developer, I could tell that you had it together in the past.
Don't let marketing take over and run the whole show. 
Regards,
Jim Hopkins
Best Answer
-
@Allnet911 wrote:I'm just echoing a plea by many paid users whose primary support platform is Linux.
One of the very great attractions of TeamViewer for me in the past as an independent IT administrator was the fact that it was so full-featured, performed extremely well, and best of all, functioned identically across Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms.
But from starting with TeamViewer 12, it seems as if Linux had to take a back seat on new features that appeared in the Windows version. For one example, consider Remote Notes, which is extremely handy ... if you're doing support from a Windows platform.
I hope with TeamViewer 13, there will be a real and successful effort to match features and interface consistency once again across all platforms.
Don't let marketing take over and run the whole show.Dear Jim,
let me assure you, that is actually the goal, and marketing has nothing to do with it.
Starting with about TeamViewer 9, it became more and more difficult to make lots of the Windows features work through Wine. For example, we wasted months to make it possible to (as bug-free as possible) sync the clipboard from remote through Wine to Xorg. A feature most users probably didn't even know exists...
With TeamViewer 12, features were added that were just about impossible to make work on Wine so we had to fall behind.
The native version has a much higher development pace, as you might be able to tell with the update next week and the one following in January.
The Linux development team is dedicated to make the Linux version at least as good as the Windows version.
So yes, we start below the known feature set, but we will soar above it. Features that we could not reasonably implement before, are now within reach.
I hope that in a few months you can look back and say that the pain was worth it.
I apologize for the inconvenience caused until then.Best regards,
DanielLinux Developer6
Answers
-
@Allnet911 wrote:I'm just echoing a plea by many paid users whose primary support platform is Linux.
One of the very great attractions of TeamViewer for me in the past as an independent IT administrator was the fact that it was so full-featured, performed extremely well, and best of all, functioned identically across Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms.
But from starting with TeamViewer 12, it seems as if Linux had to take a back seat on new features that appeared in the Windows version. For one example, consider Remote Notes, which is extremely handy ... if you're doing support from a Windows platform.
I hope with TeamViewer 13, there will be a real and successful effort to match features and interface consistency once again across all platforms.
Don't let marketing take over and run the whole show.Dear Jim,
let me assure you, that is actually the goal, and marketing has nothing to do with it.
Starting with about TeamViewer 9, it became more and more difficult to make lots of the Windows features work through Wine. For example, we wasted months to make it possible to (as bug-free as possible) sync the clipboard from remote through Wine to Xorg. A feature most users probably didn't even know exists...
With TeamViewer 12, features were added that were just about impossible to make work on Wine so we had to fall behind.
The native version has a much higher development pace, as you might be able to tell with the update next week and the one following in January.
The Linux development team is dedicated to make the Linux version at least as good as the Windows version.
So yes, we start below the known feature set, but we will soar above it. Features that we could not reasonably implement before, are now within reach.
I hope that in a few months you can look back and say that the pain was worth it.
I apologize for the inconvenience caused until then.Best regards,
DanielLinux Developer6 -
Thanks much, Daniel, for your extensive and detailed explanation of the situation. It's always great to hear directly from the development team.
I didn't mean to sound (too) facetious with my remark about marketing. I spent nearly 20 years in software development before changing to a support role, and I know from experience that engineering and marketing goals are sometimes not in alignment.
So it's a relief to hear that there is a dedicated and determined Linux team in place, and I look forward to experiencing the whole TeamViewer feature set running on Linux. Can't wait!
If it turns out as good as you say it's going to be, I'll be sorely tempted to swallow the pain of the new subcription model of pricing.
But if you see a marketing person walking down the hall, whisper out of the side of your mouth that a credit for a previous "lifetime" license towards subscription pricing would be a great reward for the forebearance of the Linux user base. I'm not sure what to suggest as a reward for the Windows crowd.
Again, many thanks for your courteous and informative reply!
Jim Hopkins1 -
Teamviewer 13 on Linux works well. However, we also use the meetings feature I also on previous versions and as a paid user with two channels, I hope the feature comes back soon. In the meantime, luckily we are cross platform capable and have to host the meeting from my windows computer to the Linux box and then simultaneously remote control into it this way. Pain in the **bleep** but works great still. Please keep us updated on the status of version 13 coming out of beta0
