While I've heard horror stories about ActiveSync over the years, I went through two Casios (E100/E105) and one iPaq (3970) and never had this many problems or read about this many problems. I don't know if it's AS or the Axim... or user-error :D.
I seem to be able to sync OK with my ThinkPad at home, but here at work, using the same cradle and cables... it's just not working. It says its working... but if you can't install software from CDs, or Explore from the 'Explore' button in the AS window... then it's not really working... right?
Somewhere I read that you needed to have Avant-Go installed, but it wasn't specific about it being needed exclusively on the PPC, the PC, or both. Is there also some subtle difference between W2K Pro and XPPro in how it deals with AS? I have AS v.4.1 on both machines as of today, nad nope... I really can't say I have two-way synchronization between my Axim and my W2K Work Desktop. No amount of soft resets seems to do anything either
Boy, I hope some ActiveSync Guru

puts together a simple-to-use and understand FAQ that becomes a sticky here. Too many peeps are complaining, reinstalling, resetting, and doing almost anything they can to try and sync.