We're never going to see a fix for sync services

[Kerry]

Hey Jeff, yes if only one module is turned at a time, syncs are
reliable. This was sort of accidentally discovered probably in March
of 08. Markspace sort of found this around the same time as I did. If
you enable more than one module, you'll get bizarre sync results like
dup'd records, data loss etc.

I've decided not to fight with my Mac anymore and just use it. That
is, I like Entourage, Contactizer Pro is no Entourage and is worse
when sync fails than Entourage so I just keep Calendar enabled and
sync is perfect. Since I do write a lot of Notes, to get around
constantly turning of the Calendar module and switching on Notes, I
just use Markspace Notes for any NOte I create on the handheld and one
the desktop. I'll still create Notes linked in Entourage but if I want
a particular not on my Handhelds I just copy them into Markspace
Notes. Finally, Contacts rarely change for me so when they do its only
occasionally I have to switch to this module. This is not proving a
hassle at all and again as long as I remember just to turn the one
module off for sync and the other on then when finished reverse that
so that only the Calendar module is enabled for sync its all going
well.

It would still be nice if this would get fixed so that it works as it
should but it doesn't and I'm certain it won't get fixed now as Office
2010 is to close with Outlook. So I've stopped fighting with my
machine and I've stopped obsessing on how do I get them to fix this
(I've got a bit of an obsessional personality that in some ways
servers me well as I get things done but can also be a great hindrance
as some things just can't be fixed and I waste too much personal
energy and emotion on stuff I just need to let go of).

That script Diane has mentioned I'm going to look at. I wouldn't mind
getting my contacts in groups as those groups sync to the TX as
categories which is very handy and of course to the iPhone.

 

[Kerry]

Check out this script

Sync Entourage & AB Groups (Donationware)

<http://www.jonn8.com/html/SyncEntourageABGroups.html>

This script resolves these issues. It will go through your contacts in
Entourage, determine the name of the categories to which they are assigned
and will place the same contacts in Address Book in matching groups (it will
create the groups if they do not already exist). The script will also set
the "my card" flag for your contact.

Diane, that script worked very nicely. All my contacts are now in
groups in Addressbook. They all transferred to the TX nicely as
categories. Excellent. Its ashame there's no way of getting this out
there in a general way for people to know about as this is super
handy. I've never cared that Calendar and task items are not
categorized on the handhelds as I can't really search on those except
display the category and its not such a big loss that I can't but I've
always found it handy to be able to do this in the one module
Contacts. It helps me refine things that I sort of forget about say by
looking at my Medical category/group and going oh yeah doctor so and
so.

My use of Markspace Notes for the handheld as opposed to Entourage
Notes does put those in Categories on both the iPhone and TX and Notes
are handy to refine this way. So its great that now the Contacts are
in groups.

 

[Diane Ross]

Its ashame there's no way of getting this out
there in a general way for people to know about as this is super
handy.

It was posted on the Entourage Help Blog. It's a great resource to find out
the latest news and also learn about Entourage. The Entourage Help Page is a
huge resource of FAQs, tips and instructions.

Too bad Microsoft doesn't see fit to let users know about the MVP help
sites. :-(

 

[Kerry]

It was posted on the Entourage Help Blog. It's a great resource to find out
the latest news and also learn about Entourage. The Entourage Help Page is a
huge resource of FAQs, tips and instructions.

Too bad Microsoft doesn't see fit to let users know about the MVP help
sites. :-(

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
Follow us on twitter <https://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

Diane, you're right. I find though there is so much Microsoft does not
do to provide good information and support for Entourage. Apple's web
site and forums provide a wealth of information. Microsoft's Mactopia
is very pathetic/lame if you like. In fact, I've seen small software
developers provide far better support, information and forums than
Microsoft for the Mac. They say they are committed to the Mac yet so
much of what they do suggests otherwise.

Anyway, I really don't think we'll see anything different from
Microsoft even if Apple grabs a significant piece of Marketshare. They
seem very unresponsive to Mac users and maybe they're like this for
their Windows clients but I don't recall this when I used Windows. It
could be Steve Ballmer that's causing this but Microsoft has always
been known to be arrogant but they've become not only arrogant but I
find that they can be quite rude and one supervisor was very
dismissive of the Mac stuff they do by saying its a small part of
their business. At that point I asked to speak to her supervisor and
the person was quite apoologetic but I suspect the other person really
reflected Microsoft's attitude towards the Mac.

 

[Diane Ross]

In fact, I've seen small software
developers provide far better support, information and forums than
Microsoft for the Mac. They say they are committed to the Mac yet so
much of what they do suggests otherwise.

Many one man shows provide excellent support via web forums. The software is
around $100/year, but Microsoft chose to roll their own. It's not the Mac
user support that's suffering, it's just general Microsoft malaise.

MVPs are volunteers and the pathetic forums make it double hard for us to
help users. I've said this before and I'll say it again.... I would rather
poke a stick in my eye than use the Mactopia forums.

 

[Kerry]

Many one man shows provide excellent support via web forums. The software is
around $100/year, but Microsoft chose to roll their own. It's not the Mac
user support that's suffering, it's just general Microsoft malaise.

MVPs are volunteers and the pathetic forums make it double hard for us to
help users. I've said this before and I'll say it again.... I would rather
poke a stick in my eye than use the Mactopia forums.

I couldn't agree with you more. The Mactopia forum is so lame its hard
to believe this comes from the largest software company. You might be
right that this is just general Microsoft malaise. Its easy to see why
Microsoft gets so much criticism around support, product quality
(Vista is the best example), general attitude (arrogance) which is
well reflected in their stock value which has really done nothing for
this decade unlike Apple's which has netted the holder I think a 900%
return (might be wrong about that high number but I don't think so).

Its so easy to see how Apple can roll out those PC/Mac ads and they're
a hit as people relate. They might be Windows users but they relate
especially if they've had anything to do with Microsoft beyond just
using their products.

I was never a big Bill Gates fan but I was always impressed with what
he accomplished. I sort of loved Steve Jobs as does everyone but I
guess I respected them both equally. However, Gate's made a big
mistake when he made his friend Ballmer the guy in charge. This guy is
doing to Microsoft what John Scully (again a friend of Steve Jobs) did
to Apple after he ousted Jobs. Its only that Microsoft is a titan he

 

[Kerry]

continued:

won't be able to. However, he's doing a good job. Can you imagine if
he completed that Yahoo deal last year at a cost of over $40b prior to
the market crash. The Yahoo stock holder (I don't hold the stock and
never have) sure would have been happy. It was the demise of Jerry
Yang though in that he didn't accept. However, Microsoft's
capitalization position would be so different today. Apple would be
way ahead of Microsoft and I think Apple might actually have more cash
on hand than Microsoft. Apple is actually headed to overtake Microsoft
on a capatilization postion.

Gates made a real mistake choosing Ballmer and everyone is suffering
right down to the individual user. I don't talk ill of anyone with a
mental health condition but you have to be aware of the effect. I
suspect he might be bipolar. His behavior is very bizarre at best. If
he is, it would definitely affect his decision making capability. If
its not this I'd just call the guy crazy at best. This affects
everyone in the ranks and thus how can we imagine we'd get good
support for our Mac products. We can't but we should. This is a
profitable business for Microsoft, we pay good dollars for these
products and although I love Entourage for what it can do its sad that
the product has second rate function (still a carbon app rather than
Cocoa so performance languishes against Cocoa apps) and pathetic
support. Why can't Microsoft provide us with information. Why can't
they provide the MVPs with information. You're doing this as a
volunteer. Microsoft, with all their money, needs to provide forum
support via volunteers. Not that you're not doing a good job but this
is just pathetic and almost smacks of usery.

Windows 7 I kind of believe came just in time for Microsoft. They're
going to be hit on competitive fronts beyond Apple that they will for
the first time in their history have much trouble with. Winmobile is
going to die against Android. Apple will continue to grab Market
Share. The Chrome OS will appeal to lightweight machines and on and on