[Newsboy]

Get an HPC. ActiveSync works just fine on those.

[Newsboy]

Get an HPC. ActiveSync works just fine on those.

[Steven Cedrone]

Originally Posted by GeoffN

What's the problem?
I have my laptop as my main sync-ing machine with ACtiveSync and have a desktop with ActiveSync as 'guest' sync-ing. (It could be the other way round). Everything gets sync-ed on both - except In-Box on the 'guest' syc.

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Get an HPC. ActiveSync works just fine on those.

We're talking about syncing a laptop to a desktop, not about syncing a Pocket PC...

What is needed is an "ActiveSync like" product to do for the laptop what ActiveSync does for our Pocket PC's...

Steve

[weapon X]

I sync between two laptops on my home network without needing Exchange. Basically I use Outlook 2000's File Sharing capabilities.

You need a local or home network (easy to do these days). You will also need a resident e-mail address on each laptop.

Go to File/Share and select which files you want to share (e.g., Notes, Contacts, etc...) on the main computer. You have options of what level of editability you want on the whatever computers you want to share the files with. Full "Editor" level allows editing and deleting of files. You would refer to the other laptop via a resident e-mail address associated with that laptop.

Updates are then e-mailed to each Outlook e-mail address for each computer. There is a slight delay of a few minutes depending on how fast your e-mail server and e-mail settings are on your computer.

The only drawback, is that the folders you share from the main computer have an alias folder name (not the original name). For example:

main laptop folder name: Contacts
I gave an alias on sharing computer: Contacts_ (with underscore)

Instead of using the "Contacts" folder in my sharing laptop, I use the "Contacts_" (with underscore) name.

At this point, my main computer is the one that I ActiveSync my PPC with (unless anyone knows how I can repath which folders in Outlook to sync).

It's been working pretty well, and more importantly, it's free!

[anthonymoody]

There was a super tiny laptop by sharp (I think the MM1) that had a 10 inch screen, is like 1/2 inch thick, and weighs 2 pounds. It came with a docking cradle that connected to your desktop via usb, and software for syncing folders and files (including, theoretically, a pst file). They sold it as something to be used with a desktop as a companion, as opposed to your sole PC. Not sure how successful it was, but it was certainly the only attempt I've ever seen at creating a robust solution to this problem.

Everyone here has suggested some decent workarounds, but at the end of the day, it seems like there might be a nice little market opportunity here for a piece of software that could be sold with a usb cable that could easily connect to PCs and sync whatever you tell it it.

TM

[carphead]

Originally Posted by Steven Cedrone

What is needed is an "ActiveSync like" product to do for the laptop what ActiveSync does for our Pocket PC's...

Steve

So does that mean it doesn't have to work?

Google is our friend throws up a interesting site at Outlook Sync

Can't say I ever used Outlook as I hate the interface and I use Lotus Notes for work and webmail for home stuff (Using IMAP Folders)

[obarnes]

I have been using FileSync for years - it is a pull / push based tool but does the basic task ok...

http://www.fileware.com/products.htm#FileSync

I do agree with most though that a more automated method would be great... with the ability to have several profiles and a good level of user configurable filters to allow 'auto' or 'user promt' for the sync...

- Oliver.

[tcrossey]

This is not a total solution but it can be useful for keeping work files synced. You can still use "MY Briefcase" on an XP machine. If you go to microsoft.com and search for "my briefcase" it show how to set it up on an XP machine and use it to synchronize any group of files you choose between machines. Of course the problem here is that we are still not matching Activesync completely. But, for now using My Briefcase and one of the other methods listed in the forum for mail, contacts, etc. you could at least get started until one of the programming geniuses comes up with an Activesync for real computers.

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by GeoffN

What's the problem?
I have my laptop as my main sync-ing machine with ACtiveSync and have a desktop with ActiveSync as 'guest' sync-ing. (It could be the other way round). Everything gets sync-ed on both - except In-Box on the 'guest' syc.

Well gee whiz, I must me a complete idiot then if it's so darn easy for you! :roll:

Your solution doesn't work for keeping two complete Outlook directory trees in sync, because the Pocket PC only supports email on one. And I'm talking about far more files than a Pocket PC can be a transit for - you really think a Pocket PC can reliably handle 10 GB of data?

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

A little product from MS called "Exchange."

Not a realistic solution for SOHO users. Next?

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by weapon X

I sync between two laptops on my home network without needing Exchange. Basically I use Outlook 2000's File Sharing capabilities.

Right - and Microsoft removed that from Outlook XP. I've been pissed off at them ever since. :evil: They claim they removed it because it wasn't stable, but I personally believe they removed it under pressure from the Exchange group who are deluded enough to think that Joe User is going to go out and buy Exchange now to do the same thing... :roll:

In a matter of months when Office 2003 comes out you're going to be two generations behind, with no ability to have that in the future, so I don't consider it a good solution for my needs. Enjoy it while you can. :|