Tell me: MissingSync vs. PocketMac?

rtmd · 04-19-06, 10:06 AM

G'day Mac lovers, :approve:

Well, I've held off of having to choose between MissingSync and PocketMac for a long time, but I guess I'm just getting tired of ActiveSync's quirks on VirtualPC. Sooooo...

I'd like to hear your experience with a *current version* of either of these products with your Windows Mobile 2003SE (let's not get into WM 2005 betas and vaporware).

Which product do you use--MissingSync or PocketMac? With what PDA? Via USB cable or bluetooth or wi-fi?

What application software packages are you syncing WITH on the Mac side? (Entourage, iCal/Address Book/Mail, or other combinations?)

What other software's data do you sync with this product? (For example, I sync my eWallet data via ActiveSync, and I'd like a good alternative that I can update from either PDA or Mac.)

On a 1 to 5 scale, 5 being highest, how would you rate the following 3 areas:

1--Overall happiness with the product (1=hate it, 2=sulking, 3=it gets me by, 4=yeah! I like it. 5=Oh wow! I'm in heaven.)
2--Ease of use (1=always having to fiddle with it to make it work, 5=It just works and I don't have to think about it)
3--Support (1=What support?, 5=They're always are glad to help me, I get the answers I need, and they send me StarBucks cards on my birthday.)

Last question: If you had the chance to return your current product for a full refund, would you choose the competitior or go with the same product.

Thanks! Waiting for your input. Randy

firekeeper · 07-13-06, 02:11 PM

BUMP.......

I have the same quesitons....... Please share.

07-14-06, 06:09 AM

OK I have used Missing Sync 2.0 for Windows Mobile with an iMate SP3i and I'm now using the 2.5 Beta to Sync with my MDA Vario.

If you follow the instructions that Missing Sync gives it just works fine. Incidentially I also have a Palm OS device and I'm syncing that using Missing Sync for PalmOS too.

I sync all three devices to my Mac Powerbook G4 and Entourage. I seem to be having less issues with duplicates than I did when syncing with my PC, which is great news.

The only issue I had with syncing was getting my Mac Firewall (Intego Net Barrier X4) to allow the connection through, but I seem to have solved that now as well.

To answer your final questions. I'm very happy with the software. The support team at Mark Space seem really nice and respond promptly. I'd be happy to recommend Missing Sync. I haven't tried Pocket Mac so I can't say how it compares.

07-14-06, 09:08 AM

Which product do you use--PocketMac Pro
With what PDA? X5 Advanced/Ambicom Bluetooth CF card
Via USB cable or bluetooth or wi-fi? Bluetooth
Other info you should know: G4 Powerbook running 10.3.x

What application software packages are you syncing WITH on the Mac side? (Entourage, iCal/Address Book/Mail, or other combinations?) Current just iCal for calendar. Occasionally, I'll use it to sync up some new photos from iPhoto.

What other software's data do you sync with this product? (For example, I sync my eWallet data via ActiveSync, and I'd like a good alternative that I can update from either PDA or Mac.) Sure and I'd love to sync my Flexwallet stuff with my Powerbook but there is no support for that using PocketMac (or Missingsync AFAIK). My understanding is that it will be up to the folks who write FlexWallet, eWallet etc to come up with a Mac compatible sync solution that is either stand alone or designed to work with the sync software. This is what they do to get their software to work with ActiveSync as well.

On a 1 to 5 scale, 5 being highest, how would you rate the following 3 areas:

1--Overall happiness with the product (1=hate it, 2=sulking, 3=it gets me by, 4=yeah! I like it. 5=Oh wow! I'm in heaven.)
4, its works pretty well for me. Couple of quirks and I'd like to see the performance improved. Oh yeah, and I'd like to be able to filter the items I sync by category...can't do that yet.

2--Ease of use (1=always having to fiddle with it to make it work, 5=It just works and I don't have to think about it)
4, its easy to set up, easy to configure, easy to use. The sync process invariably requires my input at some points during the process but its pretty normal stuff like resolving sync conflicts. Stuff like when I have changed the same calender item on my PDA and iCal. I think my sync process is more complicated due, in part, to the fact that I sync it with another PC during the day.

3--Support (1=What support?, 5=They're always are glad to help me, I get the answers I need, and they send me StarBucks cards on my birthday.)
4, requested support via email, had an answer within an hour. Only had to use support once.

Last question: If you had the chance to return your current product for a full refund, would you choose the competitior or go with the same product.
I've not tried MissingSync and obviously I think PocketMac is working pretty well for me. Given the chance I'd stick with what I have :approve:

Amy · 07-15-06, 04:32 PM

Randy - thanks for the question and welcome to Aximsite.
Welcome too to all the other "newish" Aximsite users.

Here are my answers:
Which product do you use--MissingSync or PocketMac? With what PDA? Via USB cable or bluetooth or wi-fi?
Pocket Mac with Axim x5 via USB

What application software packages are you syncing WITH on the Mac side? (Entourage, iCal/Address Book/Mail, or other combinations?)
iCal/Address Book - used to synch with Entourage (had same problems with Entourage

What other software's data do you sync with this product? (For example, I sync my eWallet data via ActiveSync, and I'd like a good alternative that I can update from either PDA or Mac.)
EWallet
On a 1 to 5 scale, 5 being highest, how would you rate the following 3 areas:

1--Overall happiness with the product (1=hate it, 2=sulking, 3=it gets me by, 4=yeah! I like it. 5=Oh wow! I'm in heaven.)
3
2--Ease of use (1=always having to fiddle with it to make it work, 5=It just works and I don't have to think about it)
3
3--Support (1=What support?, 5=They're always are glad to help me, I get the answers I need, and they send me StarBucks cards on my birthday.)
2
Last question: If you had the chance to return your current product for a full refund, would you choose the competitior or go with the same product.
Might change to MissingSynch if I could for no cost

My main problem is that even though I have PocketMac configured to consider the handheld as always correct, it puts things deleted from Axim but on iBook back on Axim. Very annoying. It also undoes the color code labels I use in Outlook. The result is that I rarely synch and have to rely on my work computer for the main synch one and go to the handheld instead of the iBook for the info. Not ideal.

Amy · 07-15-06, 04:32 PM

PS - I am interested in hearing other's opinions and if anyone has found solutions to the problems I mentioned.

Venture37 · 07-16-06, 12:09 PM

Well, I've had a Axim X50 for just over a year now & in that time I have tried pocket mac a couple of times & after a 14 day money back guarantee from mark space I decided to buy a license for missing sync yesterday.

This review isn't going to be completely fair as I was running WM2003SE when I tried pocketmac pro & I'm now running WM5 with missing sync.
Though I have to say that even though misssing sync v2.5 is at a alpha stage it beats pocket mac pro hands down.

The main problem with pocketmac pro was that once you had associated your device with it upon setup it was impossible to get it to recognise your pda again. why would you want to?
well, if you battery runs flat on your pda & you have to start from scratch pocket mac wont talk to the pda, so you have to uninstall pocketmac & reinstall from scratch.
The other problem with it was that syncing with anything other then usb would be very unstable to the point where the system would panic.

Missing sync on the other hand though a little slow (it is alpha after all) has been pretty stable so far, the only thing is, I followed the documentation step by step & it clearly says WM5 devices can only be sync'd via bluetooth whereas I had to plug the usb docking station in for it to work.

What'd be nice in missing sync is if it supported iTunes like pocketmac does.