1. Users – A complete list of users is shown on the right hand side
2. Note – Double click on a user and send them a note.  (Note: does not function like a chat screen… only one way.)
3. Share your entire desktop or just one program with the whole meeting – each participant can share their desktop too, but only one at a time. You can also give control of your desktop to any participant! 
4. Attach “Handouts” – The rest of the meeting can open a copy and edit a local copy (will not affect the original). 
5. Ability to connect directly with a projector with an IP address (not shown above).

Setting up a meeting or joining one was super easy!! 

• Start up Window’s Meeting Space
• Click Start New Meeting (or join a meeting already in progress – shown on sign in screen)
• Give your meeting a name and a password and hit the little arrow button.

After you have started the meeting you can invite others via e-mail.  The invitation will include a small attachment that the participants
only need to double click to join.  You can also invite people directly if they are in the local network.  They just accept the invitation and join in.  Nice!

Pro’s:

• Easy and fast to set up a meeting and connect with other’s around you.
• Works both in an online environment or just connecting computers together where there is no network connection.
• Great way to share files with a class in real time.
• You can’t beat the collaboration ability!  The response in instantaneous!  No lag.
• FREE!  Need I say more!

Con’s:

• Only supports up to 10 people at a time. 
• No voice support, so another option (Skype… Skypecast?) would have to be employed for those not in the same room.
• No integrated Chat options… although the note is a beginning.
• When sharing program the content on everyone else’s computer goes blank when you navigate away from the shared program.

Educational Uses:

• The best and most obvious use would be in a classroom.  If you had a small class and you wanted to share a presentation, but didn’t have a projector you could just all meet there and present.  Not only could you present, you could share documents and the whole class could share content they found with each other!  Great for a lab class!
• Document Collaboration.  Have you ever tried to huddle around one monitor as several people tried to edit a document.  Just log into the meeting room and edit the document together.  (Con, only one person can have control of the mouse, but all could see it).
• Small Group Projects.  Have students inside of a class set up their own meetings and collaborate on a project.
• Remote Assistance.  Although this is probably not what it is meant for, you could set up a meeting and send a student an invitation.  They could then share their desktop and give you the control if they need help configuring something on their computer. 
• Remote Class.  Although it would be hard without the audio integration, you could certainly set up a remote classroom and conference call (using Skype or another program).

I’m sure this is just the beginning.  What other ideas do you have?  How will you/have you used Microsoft Meeting Space?