Calendar Sync at work

[WRXHokie]

Someone help me out here with this. I'm considering getting a Mobile Me subscription, despite the problems, because I need the ability to sync my calendar among all my computers (work, home, iphone).

I have a mac at home, and a windows machine at work. How do you set up a windows machine to sync its outlook calendar with your home calendar? Installing iTunes at work is a no-no... we have strict IT rules at my work. So can mobile me still work for me?

 

[gwerhart0800]

Two issues ...

Someone help me out here with this. I'm considering getting a Mobile Me subscription, despite the problems, because I need the ability to sync my calendar among all my computers (work, home, iphone).

I have a mac at home, and a windows machine at work. How do you set up a windows machine to sync its outlook calendar with your home calendar? Installing iTunes at work is a no-no... we have strict IT rules at my work. So can mobile me still work for me?

You will have two issues:

1. iTunes installs a MobleMe Preferences control panel applet that controls the sync with MobileMe. (The actual installed package is: Apple Mobile Device Support) This is the way that a Windows system syncs to the MobileMe cloud ... without it, no sync.

2. The MobileMe Preferences/sync will not work behind a corporate firewall. (This is the piece that kills it for me!)

There are also reports of not syncing if you are already sync'd to MS Exchange. I don't use exchange for an e-mail store, so I can't comment on that one ...

 

[WRXHokie]

Okay... well that solves that.

If I didnt have to install iTunes than i'd be fine... this little problem is gonna hold back alot of people i think.

 

[ViperrepiV]

yeah, mobile me doesnt support corporate firewalls or proxy servers. what a joke.

 

[Slip Jigs]

Taking the work computer out of the equation for now, the home computer, MM and iphone are a good starting combination. Then to bring your work calendar into the mix there are a couple possible work arounds.

If you use Exchange, you can create the account on your iPhone - it keeps everything seperate from the MM data. BUT you can view both calendars together if you choose - same for contacts.

Another work around would by to sync your work puter to a third party service, then back down to home puter. Google or Yahoo perhaps, but I don't know if they support Mac on the home end - if they don't I'm sure there's something that does.

 

[bluenoise]

I'm currently running a cobbled solution that I hope to replace soon. At work, we run Lotus Notes (yes, it sucks) but I was able to get IT to install Outlook for me to use as my calendar and contact manager. I use Plaxo to sync my work Outlook with my Yahoo contacts and my iCal and Address Book on my Mac at home. My home Mac acts as a bridge between Plaxo and MobileMe. The only thing that doesn't work with this is calendar events lose their reminder going to and from Outlook. Also, my Mac has to always be on, but it's running a server anyway.

If Plaxo offered native iPhone sync, I wouldn't bother with MobileMe. They support WM phones and that was great. I told them they should support the iPhone so here's hoping they do.