The Idea Blog

I look for digital solutions everywhere, and I’m quick to sign up for and try out new software. Since reading about it in the current issue of Macworld, I’ve been working with a 30-day trial version of BusySync.

BusySync promises to take Apple’s iCal, an ics based calendar system, and sync it over a number of computers, even the web-based Google calendar. I couldn’t resist such a promise for several reasons:

1. I really want to use Apple’s iCal product because it syncs with my iPhone.

2. I work from a desktop Mac in my home office, but when I travel, I sometimes carry my PowerBook, and I’d like to take my calendar with me.

3. BusySync promised to give not only “read” but also “write” privileges to any subscribing system, which means that I can see but also change - even enter new - events on any machine, including from a public computer if I’m viewing Google calendar.

Such flexibility works through a syncing system that’s built into Macs, and if it really works, it’s just the kind of digital efficiency that I admire and appreciate.

Three days into my trial, it seems to be working, but not exactly as advertised. I’m not confident enough to put my trust into the system wherever I go.

First, I go through this screen a number of times every day. The “Conflict Resolver” is working overtime. And it’s “resolving” conflicts with calendars I don’t even have any longer.

Second, one of the calendar events on my computer isn’t showing up in my Google calendar. Not good.

And, third, an event I entered on my phone has been synced on my calendar, but when I next synced my phone, it appears twice there.

I have about a 75% comfort level that I can look at next week’s schedule and believe I have it all. That’s not good enough for me. This problem isn’t solved yet.

In the process of my working through this, if you’ve received some strange calendar invitations for dates in the past, I apologize for syncing you right along with me in my calendar quicksand.