Syncing Outlook Calendar with multiple PCs ?

[DonS]

Hello all

I am looking for a way to sync Outlook calendar with multiple PCs on the same network but without an exchange server. All users would have input to calendar changes that would have to be synced/seen by all other users. Any suggestions on this?

Thanks!

 

[Rocco]

Any reason they can't use Google calendar?

 

[DonS]

You mean to use Google Calendar stand alone? Or to use it to sync via Outlook?


Currently they are using Outlook to sync via Google Calendar, but they are having some issues. So it may just be a setup issue somewhere. But yes, they would be open to continue doing this way if it would work correctly.

 

[Rocco]

You mean to use Google Calendar stand alone? Or to use it to sync via Outlook?


Currently they are using Outlook to sync via Google Calendar, but they are having some issues. So it may just be a setup issue somewhere. But yes, they would be open to continue doing this way if it would work correctly.

Which outlook are they using?

 

[Rocco]

http://files.racs.com.au/CustUpdates/GoogleCalendarSync_Installer.exe

I haven't tried to use this for a year or so since I stopped using outlook, but it is still in my notes as a great Google calendar/outlook sync. I used it on my desktop and laptop. could be better tools now though. Sorry not up to date.

Edit: don't use that. no longer supported. hold on while I research more. My notes are really out of date!

 

[callthatgirl]

CompanionLink might work, pretty inexpensive.

 

[Rocco]

It looks like 3rd party tools are the only way to do it now. Of course, I have not taken the time to research all of them, you can if you wish. However, after reading reviews of a few of the top contenders, this one seems to rank overall among the highest. For auto sync, it is $25 each. Call them and they may be able to offer lower price for multiple licensing.http://www.syncmycal.com/compare_versions.htm

The first link I posted is no longer supported, and I would not use it in a business environment. For residential though, reports are that it still works. Use at your own risk. From a security stand point, I would never use a program beyond its EOL.

Maybe others have spent more than 10 minutes researching 3rd parties and I will be over the weekend, but this has been nothing more than an excuse not to change out this iPad screen, so I better get to that...

 

[DonS]

They are using Outlook 2007.

Question I suppose is, does the Google Calendar Sync work well for this implementation or is it known to be buggy? It may just be that Google Calendar Sync works, they just have some items not setup correctly that I need to delve into?

I would assume, each user should have google calendar sync installed, all using their own Google Calendar, with all the other users emails added in ?

I am not too familiar with Google Calendar Sync with Outlook, so I am open to suggestions on how this should actually be set up to work correctly.

And thank you for all the responses already.

 

[SAG]

CompanionLink might work, pretty inexpensive.

Would definitely work.
But yes, pretty expensive.

I'd think that having a Google calendar and using any sync utility to sync it to all Outlook clients would get the job done though.

 

[drjones]

I'd really try hard to just move them to a hosted exchange. In the long run, they will be far happier and it will work far better and offer them far superior reliability, features & performance.

I'm a big fan of PayPerCloud.com and you really can't beat the price - around $8/user/month. Exchange doesn't have to break the bank & it certainly doesn't mean a huge investment in hardware & software.

Sell them on the features & benefits like:

- All emails, folders, contacts & calendars will sync to ALL your devices; everyone has a work PC, iPad, iPhone/android, home PC. Inevitably people want to access all their info from each of those devices, or more than one.

- Backups; PSTs are harder to backup & manage backup of multiple workstations; with a hosted exchange, they don't have to worry about that any longer.

- Overall superior reliability & performance. I get virtually zero calls from my clients who either host their own exchange & we maintain, or use PPC. My POP/IMAP clients on the other hand....ugh...it's a mess.

One other thing to consider is I had one client that thought they also wanted to have ONE shared office calendar; it quickly became clear it was a big mess. Nobody knows who put what event on the calendar, it's not clear who is supposed to attend, managing info & details is a big pain. They very quickly had us delete the single shared calendar and instead give read access to everyone's calendars (and in some cases read/write) so that everyone could see everyone else's.

Trying to do the "one shared office calendar" doesn't work too well, IMO.

 

[callthatgirl]

And here is a great pitch for hosted...everything synchs. All computers, iPads, iPhones, Android.

That and AppRiver has basic hosting at $5 a month per user, can't go wrong.

 

[SynapseTech]

Why not get a single exchange account just to sync a calendar to? I did it for my company directly with Microsoft. It costs $4 a month. Very worth it.

 

[altrenda]

Since they are already using Gmail, why not Google Apps for Business?

$50 a year per user, works well with Outlook. no migration, no changes necessary.

 

[johnrobert]

Just wondering what has to be done to sync calander
once you sign up for Google Apps for Business
they already have gmail accounts

 

[altrenda]

Check this out.

https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gappssync

fixed

 

[DonS]

As far as they are telling me, they are already using Google Apps for business.

And yes, we just need to sync Outlook calendar to like 7 other users in office.

 

[johnrobert]

When I ran program first part migration passed, but sync failed
is this because I dont have an account with Google Apps for business

 

[PBComputer]

Yes apps sync only for gapps accounts. Their is another program which might work. But can't remember the name.

 

[johnrobert]

you pay for Google Apps for business and they give you a login
is that how it works, different than free google apps