Re: [Phpgroupware-developers] Palm synchro

[Ben Cottrill]

> 1. I have successfully used the windows hotsync software from Palm (came
> with my PDA) to do a network hotsync to Coldsync running on a Linux box

O.K...  I will have to look into this (when I get ahold of a windows box).  So 
the sync works something like this:

|palm | <-> |palmdesktop|<-net->|coldsync|<-net->|phpgw|

It appears from this that multiple users for palmdesk to coldsync over network 
are not quite supported yet (as of last month).  This may be an option though 
shortly.

http://www.pilot-link.org/pipermail/pilot-unix-ng/2002-March/000019.html


> 2. If you have phpgroupware providing the groupware calendar solution and
> Palm sync conduits do you still need Outlook (I'm doing the conduits to
> completely abandon Outlook in favour of a phpgw solution)

The reason to keep outlook as part of the solution is not so much a technical 
requirement as it is a "marketing" or usability requirement.  Humans are 
pretty much creatuers of habit.  We like having our little outlook reminders 
pop up and tell us we have meetings.  We like that we put our palms in the 
cradle and they can sync up at 3 levels (palm, outlook, and web portal -- 
this is a TrueSync / my-yahoo selling point).  If I understand it correctly, 
the phpgw notify window just sits like another browser window (please correct 
me if I am mistaken).  There are some things a "thicker" client does better 
than a browser such as notifications and  syncing (which is why you need 
something like coldsync).  

An example of why you might keep outlook is that it is easy to miss changes in 
a browser window, whereas outlook sort of hijacks things, makes noise, and 
otherwise browbeats the user into acknowledging the appointment one way or 
another.  (for some this make phpgw better ;) a palm pilot can beep at 
meeting time if it is synced to the groupware)  Mostly though it is the habit 
thing.  Outlook is shipped with nearly every PC that is bought in the 
corporate world, and seems to pretty much dominate desktop email and 
scheduling.  Working within the system may be a better way to beat it than to 
just try and replace it outright.

I think that what has the potential to win lots of phpgw users in a hurry is 
that it can be used from almost any desktop and provide MOST of what users 
need (good for the road / home users) and provides a nice inexpensive easy to 
administer consolidation of calendering / messaging resources.  The value 
lies as much in the openness of the server side solution as it does in the 
fact that the interface is tailored to a web browser.  This messaging / 
calendering discussion is not meant to slight the project management stuff at 
all.  MS Project is just as worthy a target as outlook/exchange...

Regards,
Ben

-- 
Ben Cottrill
BIOMEC Inc.
address@hidden
216-937-2800 x243