LanSchool was originally geared towards the classroom setting, but now the home version gives parents a tool for making the internet a safer place for their whole family. Through computer monitoring, screen shots, web-filtering, website blocking, and other key features, parents are able to better protect their kids from unwanted information and images. Parents can limit the programs and computer features that their kids use on the computer. By using the remote access feature, parents are able to blank out the computer screen.
In addition to the safety and monitoring capabilities, parents can use Lanschool as a way to help kids remotely. If a child is in a different room, a parent (or child) can send a message to their other person’s computer. The parent can view the child’s computer screen at any given time. If the child wants to show the parent something they are doing on their computer, then the parent can view it directly on their own computer. If the child needs help with a task on the computer, the parent can use the remote control feature to help the child from the parent’s computer.
We didn’t have a chance to thoroughly test out this product as we weren’t using the computer very much during the review time period. (Sometimes we use the computer a lot in our school while at other times, we use it very little. This happened to be a time period where we used it very little.) Some of the features that we did test out and really enjoy were the messaging feature and the remote access feature. Munchkin liked being able to send and receive messages from me at any given time. She also liked that I was able to grab control of her computer from my computer when she ran into a problem with a program she was using at the time.
Overall, I was quite impressed with the Lanschool software, and I look forward to using it more in the upcoming months. I like that, as a parent, I can decide which features to use and which features to disregard. I personally didn’t care to use the key stroke recording, so I didn’t use it. I felt like this software would be great for any parent – homeschooler or not. For $99, a parent can have a useful tool for gaining control over the computer and the internet on 3 computers in the home.
System Requirements:
LanSchool v7.5 supports any combination of computers running Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP-32, Windows Vista-32/64, Windows 7-32/64, Windows 2003 and 2008 Terminal Server, MultiPoint Server, Citrix, NComputing U, X and L series, iPad, iPod, iPhone, iOS 3 and iOS 4, Mac OS 10.4 and higher.
The only exception is the LanSchool teacher console for the Mac, which will only run on Intel- based Mac hardware running OS 10.5 or higher.
Processor:
166 MHz Intel® Pentium® processor or faster
RAM:
- 48 MB for Windows 98
- 96 MB for Windows 2000
- 128 MB for Windows XP
- 256 MB for Windows Vista
- 512 MB for Mac
Protocol stack:
- All computers must be configured with TCP/IP
- 802.11 wireless is supported, however enterprise class access points are recommended
To use this product, you will need to have multiple computers that are networked in your home. Head over to the TOS Crew blog to see what my fellow crewmates had to say about Lanschool.
I received a download of Lanschool to help facilitate the writing of this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.
Great review. You’re an excellent writer.
Lorie recently posted..LanSchool Software Review