Hi James,

Gee, I wish that I could help you, but I am the most computer-illiterate person you will ever meet!  I just felt badly that no one responded to your post....c'mon all you 'techies' out there!  Help a fellow AR'er out!  Maureen - you know alot about computers and the internet....can you help?

I hope that you get the answer that you need James!

VAL

Thanks VAl.. I am still waiting for some really good advice...anyone? I could really use the input if you know any way to address this issue. Any help wil be most apprecoiated.

James, I can tell you this- I use outlook on a couple of computers and if your outlook is up- on one computer it wont let you open up your email on both.

For example I have mtoliver!@ charter.net email (fictional email)- if i leave it up and running and try to check my charter email from another pc it shows me that I don't have any emails!  Have you called microsoft! for any extra help!  I m sorry - I wish I were Maureen!

"Have you called Microsoft?"  Marci you must be pulling my leg..do you mean that one can actually talk to a human being at Microsoft? I was unsure that humans worked there much less that one could somehow contact them. Please advise.

James,

I use different versions on different computers.  Could you explain your problem a little better to me.  Like what are you talking about syncing?  That is a term used for palms or pda's.  I do that also.  Break down your problem a little for me and the others and I think we could find the answer.

Thanks,

Lee, what I mean when I say sync is that I have three different computers- two are my own but at seperate offices and running 2007 and 2003. The third is with an associate running 2003. What I need to do be able to do is keep certain folders synchronized between these three computers. For example, I need to synch computer A's planning calendar and task folder with computer C. I need Computer C to do the reverse so that any changes made by either party are synced just like a PDA and PC.  Then with computer A I need to sync one contact folder, one task folder and two calendar folders with computer B. In other words I want to keep certain folders synced between non-networked computers. The problem is I don't really want to use a server based software due to the expense and security but at this point all of the software I have tried has proven ineffective or cumbersome to use. Thanks for your help.

www.1and1.com have a microsoft exchange server, however I see you are concerned about security.  This isn't an issue with that type of service, and is actually less of a security issue than your personal computer that you go online with.  Also the fact that if someone actually wants your info...they can get it, albeit hard they can and will, but these companies (especially 1and1) spend lots of money to make sure their stuff is secure.  Just like locking the front door of your house only keeps an honest man honest.  If someone wants in they will get in.  But if you allow the experts to come in and take over security of your house it makes it much more secure.

With all that said...I will look into some other stuff for you.  I do "sync" more than one outlook with my info and folders, but I use a pda and run that as my in between.  The info just goes back and forth so far and no major glitches.

Hi James,

Let me ask you a question. Are all three computers hooked up to the internet? If so, here are two easy ways of keeping them all up to speed.

• Using a remote Exchange server. - Like Lee stated, http://www.1and1.com/ has a exchange server account for $6.99 a month. With the exchange server account, each computer will sync up to that account. It wouldn't matter which computer you made the change on, all 3 would see the same information. When you connected your PDA to your computer (whichever one that may be) it will sync as normal and will sync to the server at the same time. All three computers and your PDA will have the same information.

I am a Treo(Windows version) cell phone user and I can also sync it up to the exchange server as well. No need for an extra PDA to carry around and when I make changes on my phone it automatically updates the exchange server. Everything stays perfectly in sync.

• Using Plaxo. - There is another service you can use called Plaxo. http://www.plaxo.com/. Plaxo works kind of like an exchange server. You go to their website, sign up and download a little program that attaches to your Outlook. You then do this to the other two computers logging into the same account each time. (Don't create an account for each computer.) Once this is done, when you make a change on one computer it will sync up with Plaxo. Each computer will sync with Plaxo on an automatic basis but you can also click on a "Sync now" button to do it immediately. For your PDA you would put it in it's cradle to sync as normal. The only thing with Plaxo is that you cannot connect it to your Treo like you can with exchange server.

There is a free membership with Plaxo or you can use the Premium version for $20 a year.

One good thing with either one of these systems is that you can log into their website on any computer and see your contacts, email, etc through the web browser.

I started with the Plaxo setup but then changed to exchange server so I could use my Treo. If you have any questions about either one of these systems, feel free to ask.

Have a great day!

Jackson

Jackson, I tried to find out more from the website you suggested but without buying it, I cannot tell if it will allow me to sync individual folders. Let me state that I do not need e-mail sync just calendar, contact,  and tasks folders. I do not want to sync my entire outlook as some problems only seem capable of doing. Any further help would be most appreciated.

Hi James,

Actually, It has been such a long time since I used Plaxo that I forgot that it doesnt sync your email. Sorry about that. I did go back to their site and log into my account. They sync up Contacts, Tasks, Notes and Calendar.  From what you said, that would cover everything you need. And it's free! :-)

All you have to do is sign up, download their software and run it to sync up Plaxo with Computer A then download their software to Computer B and let Plaxo sync up with that computer and download the software to Computer C and let Plaxo Sync up.

From that point on you should be good to go! When you enter a new item into your calender, tasks, or contacts it it will automatically update Plaxo on an automatic schedule. If you enter something on one computer and want to immediately go to another computer, just click on the manual "Sync" button on your Outlook toolbar and it will do it right then.

It is a good feeling to have all your contacts and notes backed up to an off-site location. If you have some kind of disaster on the computers at you home your information is still safe.

Jackson

Jackson, Thanks again for your input. The problem with Plaxo and other web based services is that they do not let you sync some folders while not syncing others. I have, for example, three calendar folders and I only want to sync one of them atr a time. Same with task folders- I only want to sync one of them at a time. Most of the programs I have looked at sync the whole of outlook or the whole of any function like task, calendar, or contacts. I do not need any e-mail sync so that is not an issue.