Computer Synching Software

[Rob Markoff]

I don't really know what to call it. My Wife has two macs, one at work and one at home. She subscribes to Mac.com and as a result, her computers sync each other so the computer at home always has her e-mail and appointment book the same as at work. So if she books an appointment, the next morning she can check her schedule at home for something she booked at work.

Is there something simolar for Outlook on a PC?

 

[Mike Labbe]

Outlook has this feature built in if you're using it in conjunction with a Microsoft EXCHANGE server.

Mike

 

[David Waldmann]

If you use Google calendar you can have it sync with Outlook. Don't know the details.

Also, some web hosts offer Exchange as part of their email package. It may cost an extra $5/mailbox or 20/10 mailboxes or some such thing, but it's a lot cheaper than buying and maintaining Exchange. In addition, you can log into Exchange from anywhere you have internet access with a web browser (public library, friend's house, etc) and have the just about the same functionality (and look) as using Outlook.

 

[TheFrameGuy]

Apple's .MAC system has been revamped as MobileMe. Apple created MobileMe as an Exchange solution for iPhone users. MobileMe works on both MAC and Windows computers.

MobileMe and Exchange basically allow you to have your e-mail, calendars, contacts and tasks all synced in real time on multiple computers, cell phones and through a Web based browser interface. Exchange is mostly for business professionals while MobileMe is more for home users. Microsoft is getting ready to introduce their own "home user" system called SkyBox.

The negative about MobileMe is that you have to use a "rented" e-mail address from Apple. Either an @mac.com or an @mobileme.com address. With Exchange, you can use an address you "own," like joe@joesframes.com.

If you have a Hotmail account, you can install Outlook Connector in to your Outlook software and have your Hotmail e-mail, contacts and calendar all synced. With Outlook Connector you can use a "rented" @hotmail.com address, or an address you "own" that is set up through Windows Live Custom Domains.

If you have a Gmail account, you can convert your mailbox to an IMAP account and have your mail and calendar synced in Outlook. There is not a syncing solution for contacts yet. Google allows you to use both a "rented" @gmail.com address as well as your own "owned" e-mail address set up through Google Apps.