03-29-2002, 04:45 AM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 137
|
|
The Wonders of ActiveSync
http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/downloads/activesync35.asp
ActiveSync often gets a bad rap it doesn't deserve. I see threads all over the boards about connectivity problems, but the fact is, ActiveSync works pretty darn well for what it does.
This point was driven into my thick skull recently when I tried to setup my Sony Cli� so that it would sync with Outlook and Word just like my Pocket PC does. I'm starting a business as a mobile computing consultant, and it pays to be well-versed in both platforms.
Two hours and two system crashes later, I gave up. I'm an old hand with PalmOS, and but it just wasn't worth the trouble. I'll still keep the Cli� around to play with, but I won't sync to it.
It's weird that what really separated the original PalmPilot from the competition was that it synchronized with the desktop better and more completely than anything else. Now, six years later, HotSync is a mess of often mutual incompatibilities while ActiveSync works without a hitch. On not one, but three different Pocket PCs. I know everything stays in sync without my having to hit a button, and I can do other things on my device while it's synchronizing.
That's not to say I haven't had the occasional USB glitch, but most problems I've had with ActiveSync can be fixed simply by removing the Pocket PC from the cradle, then re-seating it.
So what do you think? Am I just lucky, or has Microsoft really outdone one of the biggest strengths of the competition?
|
| |
|
|
|
03-29-2002, 05:23 AM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 102
|
|
ActiveSync works
I agree that ActiveSync gets a lot of bad press and I don't understand why. In the last two years, since I bought my first E-100 at the Casio booth at Microsoft's TechED, I have only had one problem with ActiveSync. I've used it on 95, 98, NT, 2000 and now XP (even going all the way back to XP Beta 1) and it's been great! Just recently it gave me some wierd sync errors on myy work laptop so I removed it and reinstalled the latest release and Presto! I'm back in business.
I can't believe with all the PCs and OSes I've used it on that it was just luck. Keep up the great work, MS! I wish their other products worked as well as ActiveSync!
|
| |
|
|
|
03-29-2002, 06:21 AM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 4
|
|
Palm & Pocket PC Syncing...
I'm a Pocket PC (iPaq 3650) and Palm user (Kyocera SmartPhone w/built-in Palm), and I've never had a problem with either ActiveSync or HotSync. In fact, there's a piece of software that comes with the Kyocera SmartPhone that allows you to interface HotSync with MS Outlook. It's called "Pocket Mirror" or something like that. I love it, because I can keep both my Pocket PC and my Palm up-to-date with the same contacts, calendar entries, todo's, and notes.
Scott Savage
http://www.savagewebdesign.com
http://www.mexijew.com/
http://www.salliemae.com/
Those who cannot do command those who can.
|
| |
|
|
|
03-29-2002, 06:35 AM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 13
|
|
I wish my experience had been the same. I must admit that when it works, it works extremely well. When it doesn't work, well, there's probably nothing more frustrating on the face of the earth. Right now I can't get it to synch with my NT workstation at work. It worked for a while, and then nada. I've probably reinstalled the software, with and without the help of Compaq, about 15 times. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. As for time wasted, I'd probably clock it at 4-8 hours. Maybe more. But the worst thing about all this is the bald patches on the side of my head.
Oh, by the way, the Compaq rep I spoke to, after waiting about 45 minutes on hold, told me that Activesync doesn't support NT -- even after I told him that it was working fine for a couple of months. Ahhh...the joys of technical support are without number.
|
| |
|
|
|
03-29-2002, 06:46 AM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 226
|
|
Works for me (most of the time)
I've been syncing with two PCs (work and home) for more than a year now, and ActiveSync is great 95% of the time. The remaining 5% can be frustrating and makes no sense sometimes, but given everything it's doing, I don't have many complaints. Granted, I'm not using a USB hub or some of the other known problems, but my experience is on par with the few months I used HotSync with my Palm m100.
I will say restoring from a hard reset is an appallingly bad experience, so much so that I finally put together a multi-step document to make sure I could restore without a million duplicates. If they get that licked, I think Microsoft's sync stuff will be pretty solid.
|
| |
|
|
|
03-29-2002, 08:21 AM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 361
|
|
Not bad, not bad
Activesync has always worked pretty well for me. While I've had a couple minor problems with using cradles via USB hubs, it has always been managable. Like anything MS makes, there's room for improvement. But out of the box, for FREE, it works very well with Pocket PCs of all types.
|
| |
|
|
|
03-29-2002, 10:51 AM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 248
|
|
The Wonders of ActiveSync
I agree wholeheartedly. My own experience with ActiveSync has been very good ever since version 3.0 and doing away with the crappy Windows CE Services 2.2. Most problems that people seem to experience with ActiveSync are hardware issues, either with their PC or Pocket PC (iPAQ USB problems in ROMs before 1.69).
|
| |
|
|
|
03-29-2002, 11:30 AM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5
|
|
Active Sync
I have used ActiveSync for years on many different computers and with many different CE machines from version 1.0 up to the latest 3.5, on serial and USB, and with everything from Windows 95 to XP. No combination of the above I have ever used has worked reliably. I routinely have problems with ActiveSync hanging up and having to be restarted.
|
| |
|
|
|
03-29-2002, 12:26 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 17
|
|
work files
I use active sync 3.5 to synchronize my ipaq h3830 pocket pc with 2 PCs with outlok 2002 SR-1 and it works like charm.
Home pc is running windows XP and i had 0 problems
Work pc is 200mhz pc (f... slow) with win98se and i have encountered many problems syncing my compaq
both computers use same activesync same outlook
this is to say that Operating system and hardware makes the difference so if you have any problems get a decent pc with Windows XP and you will face no problems at alll
most users encounter problems due to usb connection
os fixes that
|
| |
|
|
|
03-29-2002, 01:07 PM
|
|
Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 667
|
|
Early versions (CE Services) were a pain to install in NT, but worked fine for me once set up. Since version 3.0, things have been much better, but not perfect. My three major complaints:
1) When the PPC and computer get "out of sync", there is an option to replace all items on the PPC or combine the two (duplicates for sure), but there is no option for replacing the computer data from the PPC. Since I sync with two computers, this is sometimes the correct choice. Too bad they can't figure out that it's a useful choice.
2) Every time daylight savings time changes, and Windows automatically adjusts, all of my syncs get lost. The first computer I sync with ends up making pile of duplicates, then the second computer makes duplicates of the duplicates and I end up with four copies of some items. You'd think the two MS products could get along together better than that. Of course, this one wouldn't be quite as bad if item 1) were solved.
3) Occasionally, ActiveSync loses track of itself. The system tray icon disappears, and the PPC won't sync, yet parts of it are still running in memory. This can even happen in the same session (i.e. without rebooting) in which I have just used it successfully. It just disappears. Once this happens, nothing brings it back except reinstalling ActiveSync over the old copy. Luckily, when I do that, it does remember my settings.
Overall, it's not bad. But it does still need some work.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
