Blaise Alleyne

Google and Screen Sharing

Blaise Alleyne at

Just had a call with someone re: Google Dynamic Remarketing Tags in Magento for a client.

  • Google rep: May I go ahead and start a web meeting with you?
  • Me: I'm not sure if that will work. I'm using GNU/Linux.
  • Google rep: ... sorry?
  • Me: I'm using GNU/Linux
  • Google rep: No, uh, what I mean by that is I would be initiating a web meeting through which I can share your screen.
  • Me: Right. What are the system requirements for that?
  • Google rep: Okay, we have multiple platforms for that, we use WebEx or Join Me or any other platforms like that. Which operating system are you using?
  • Me: I'm using Debian testing.
  • Google rep: Ok, so, I believe WebEx should work on that. right? It's based on Linux-platform?
  • Me: But does WebEx require Oracle Java?
  • Google rep: Um, I'm not 100% sure on that, but a plugin is definitely required.
  • Me: Okay, so, I don't have any proprietary software on my laptop. If it's going to require proprietary software, I can't do the screen sharing.
  • Google rep: Okay... but, does it allow you to run .exe files?

At that point, we both gave up. He's emailing me instructions. For some reason, I assumed Google might be better than usual with respect to this kind of thing. (Though, I could imagine another conversation where he invites me to join Google+ and use Hangouts... )

lnxwalt@microca.st, Ben Sturmfels, jrobertson, jpope and 2 others likes this.