Disappointment with Microsoft: Syncing with updated Palm PIM apps

[Robert Barrimond]

I recently upgraded my Tungsten T to a Treo 650. I noted that my new Treo
used the updated PIM applications, namely Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks.
These replaced Address Book, Date Book, and ToDo's respectively on my
Tungsten.

Thankfully, I have been able to successfully sync with Entrourage, but have
been disappointed by the speed that Microsoft has taken in updating it's
conduit. The new PIM apps would more tightly integrate with features of
Entourage I have ignored to date because they couldn't be used on my Palm,
e.g. the location field and categories on calendar events or recurring
tasks. Given that Windows users have enjoyed tight integration between
their Palm's and Outlook for years now, I'm beginning to suspect some
foot-dragging on the part of Microsoft with us Mac users.

What's the deal here? I've been a loyal, paying customer. I'm beginning to
question if paying hundreds of dollars for the next version of Office is
really worth it.

 

[Robert Barrimond]

The guys at Mark/Space that produce Missing Sync (www.markspace.com) have
apparently noticed (it's been mentioned on their mailing list) that both the
iSync conduit and the Entourage conduit aren't really up to much. They've
said that if Apple and Microsoft don't do something soonish, they'll
probably step into the breech. They've already developed their own conduit
for AvantGo (even though the MAL conduit has been around for a while), so
there is a possibility that their talk isn't just talk.

Personally, I love Missing Sync's AvantGo conduit. Mark/Space's products
are slick, great value for the money, and quality software (not without
bugs, but in general good stuff). I'm a user of Missing Sync, a software
package which puts palmOne's Hot Sync Manager to shame. Given Mark Space's
track record, I'd buy their Entourage conduit as soon as it's on the market.
Yes, I said "BUY!"

Something else that's been itching my brain lately. Why doesn't the MacBU,
with it's limited resources, foster an economy based on Office a la the
iPod? Mark/Space, for example, makes great software for the Palm and
PocketPC which only encourages Mac users to use Microsoft's products and
provides an alternate *residual* revenue stream for the MacBU. It would
seem prudent to help them get products to market faster and generating
profit ultimately for Microsoft. It all seems so nonsensical, to leave money
on the table.

 

[Larry Beard Jr :: Conceptologist]

On 3/7/05 12:04 AM, in article BE515911.EBC5%[email protected], "Ignat

I completely agree. The new Palm apps have been out for something like 18
months now. One is beginning to give up hope that Microsoft will ever
produce a conduit that would co-ordinate tightly between Entourage and Palm.
For that matter, Palm could do it, but they¹re not doing it. No one is
doing it. Is the market just too small?

I totally agree. I'm wondering if we will have to wait another 4 years for
another half-efforted attempt to appease the Macintosh user.


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[Garrett Ewald]

While I'm generally content that I can sync at all, I'm a little ticked at
the flakiness of the process. I have way too many contacts on my Palm
missing basic data that resides in Entourage. There was a fix for this that
involved deleting some files, but I can never remember how to do this, and I
can't always find it in the forum when I need it. Any chance they'll fix
this when the fix the issues Entourage is having with Tiger?


Garrett