Outlook 2003

[ArchAngel777]

I have a client of mine who wants to share their calendars in Outlook 2003. I know that officially, this can only be done with an Exchange Server. However, there are several third party software products that claim this can be done through their software. After a brief look at all of these products, I am curious to know if anyone has any experience with them and if there is one they can recomend for a small company.

Thanks in advance,

Gabriel

 

[Kelemvor]

Are you on the same network or are these completely separate PCs?

 

[Rapidskies]

It is basically the same as 2000:

http://searchexchange.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid43_gci998617,00.html

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Rapidskies
It is basically the same as 2000:

http://searchexchange.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid43_gci998617,00.html

Why do I want a link on Exchange + Outlook? 😕

Topic Summary: Sharing Calendars without Exchange Server

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Are you on the same network or are these completely separate PCs?

They are all on the same domain. Though, in some cases one of the guys travels with his laptop and would be off of the network. So a solution for either possibility would be great.

 

[Kelemvor]

There are ways to do it online or just with a shared drive...

If you have a shared drive that all people have access to, just go under the Free/Busy section in Calendar Options and you can choose to publish your calendar info to a certain location (e.g. X:\shared\Calendar\bill)

Then you have to set it up so that for each person in your contact list, it knows where their calendar info is so you can see if they are available or not.

Microsoft also has a way to do this through their online service wher eit publishes up to some central website somehwere and basically accopmlishes the same thing.

Those ar ethe two I've used.

I know there are other programs that work by sending encoded emails back and forth every time someone sets something up in a calendar so taht everyone can see everyone else's information but those aren't quite as easy or reliable.

Here's one link I found:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/ha010347971033.aspx

 

[Rapidskies]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: Rapidskies
It is basically the same as 2000:

http://searchexchange.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid43_gci998617,00.html

Why do I want a link on Exchange + Outlook? 😕

Topic Summary: Sharing Calendars without Exchange Server

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Are you on the same network or are these completely separate PCs?

They are all on the same domain. Though, in some cases one of the guys travels with his laptop and would be off of the network. So a solution for either possibility would be great.

Sorry didn't catch the *without* in your title

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Rapidskies

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: Rapidskies
It is basically the same as 2000:

http://searchexchange.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid43_gci998617,00.html

Why do I want a link on Exchange + Outlook? 😕

Topic Summary: Sharing Calendars without Exchange Server

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Are you on the same network or are these completely separate PCs?

They are all on the same domain. Though, in some cases one of the guys travels with his laptop and would be off of the network. So a solution for either possibility would be great.

Sorry didn't catch the *without* in your title

No problem, thanks for trying to help though. :beer:

Franky, thanks, I will try the information you suggested.

 

[RebateMonger]

A couple of years ago, I did some research on Exchange alternatives for sharing email/calendars/contacts within small companies. The system that Outlook 2000 offered apparently wasn't very reliable.

You might find some useful discussion of the alternatives on Slipstick.com.

We decided that, in the end, we'd be better of with an Exchange Server, so we never actually tested any of the alternatives. Some of them SOUNDED good.

If you only have a few users and have no other need for a Server, you might look at hosted Exchange accounts. They run about $15 per month per user. Most of our users in our own company's SBS server run Outlook remotely, using Outlook RPC over HTTPS. This is, effectively, the same as using a hosted Exchange account. It works fine. Using hosted Exchange, you can also use Outlook Web Access and Public Folders for shared Contacts.

Your client should also consider the advantages of running Windows Small Business Server 2003. That includes Exchange, SharePoint for cooperative workspaces, full remote access and email access from ANYWHERE, strong security by default, and automated backups. Dell is selling SBS 2003, Standard Edition, servers, complete with software, for $600-$800, although I strongly recommend that the initial configuration be done by someone with prior practice installing SBS, to avoid common first-time installation mistakes.