[gavininskip]

Hi guys,

I love technology is keeps me organised...however when it doesn't work it just becomes most stressful and now I've realised I've spend more time trying to sort out the tech I use for work, rather than actually doing the work! I've got 3 big issues that if I could nail I'd be so happy. I can't get it to work how I need it to and it's starting to get on my tits!

I realise this may be very long-winded but view it as a little project that you can have full creative rein on to solve and make a man's life better!

HOW IT ROLLS AT THE MOMENT!

Calender, Tasks, Contacts rule my life so I'm all nicely organised. I have a desktop PC and a MacBook (18 month olds), however I always have to use it in Windows mode...which does seem a bit pointless!

From my Desktop PC - I synced up to my mobile phone with MyPhone Explorer which syncs my Calender, Tasks, Contacts and Photos a dream! Because I have 1000 odd Contacts in Outlook, I have a separate folder called Mobile Contacts which syncs to my phone.

Then I have to keep copying my PST file to a USB Key, booting up my Macbook (in windows moder) and transferring over the PST file. As you can imagine this is a huge pain!

HOW I WANT TO ROLL!

What I want to do is open up my MacBook in Mac mode and having everything up to date and at my fingertips...that would be great!

1. CALENDER / CONTACTS / TASKS

I need something that can sync these up between my Macbook, Desktop PC and anything else. I've tried everything from Plaxo - MobileMe and all have problems! I'm now trying Google Calender for this, although I don't think it's doing tasks. Also bear in mind with contacts I have the 2 folders "Contacts" and "Mobile Contacts". I also have my contacts in categories I'd like to retain. When I do Contacts it always goes wrongs, messes up categories, double up etc. (Mobile Me and Plaxo do this!)

2. EMAIL

This is a tough one! I've got Outlook, I've got Entourage/Mail. Wouldn't it be great if I could open up my MacBook download my emails, delete, read, reply and then next time I open Outlook all those changes are reflected? I'd love that! I have tried IMAP but it's so slow. Also I have lots of folders and stored emails on Outlook which I'd like to retain...so therefore I'd have to use this as the pro-forma.

3. FILES

My idea is to get a Terabyte Wireless hard drive at home. This way I can store all my docs/pics/music and whatever else on this. That way it can be hard-wired into my Desktop PC and I can get stuff wireless for the MacBook. Can anyone suggest a good hard-drive to do this? Also, I'd like to purchase another one to do a scheduled back-up too?

I know that Windows does a lovely Off-line File System. I'd like to do something like this for my Macbook so I can have my most used files on the go all the time? Can you suggest something for this...and should I think of something like iDisk or Dropbox etc.?



As I said, there's loads of stuff here but I can't not express how stress free and carefree my life would be if I could sort all this out! If someone could email me with right do this, do this, do this....I'd be so happy and I'd even but you dinner.

Also my Desktop PC is on the way out so may be looking for a new purchase there!

Look forward to hearing from you!

Gav

[Hughv]

Your life is too complicated.
I can tell you that Gmail would solve most of this-one calendar, accessible from anywhere. Cloud computing is here to stay, so we might as well take advantage.

[gavininskip]

Tell me about it...try living it!

Yeah I'm well up for cloud stuff!

Does Google do tasks at the moment too?

[Hughv]

I've never really understood the difference between a task and an appointment. but I use the calendar daily.