Advice sort - platform/system/?? for Family email & calendar sharing with own domain

Noblejoker on 30/11/2015 - 22:44

OK - so I have my own domain and have been using Google Apps for Domain for a few years
As things grow and change we are striking a number of issues
Here's some background then the issues
Family of 4 - have current Office 365 subscription for 5 users
Domain registered and linked to Gapps (free not paid)
2 Android Phones and 4 Android tablets though only the phones really count

Issues
I ave a corporate work PC and can't reliably sync/link my Google calendar so appointments sync both ways
There are 3rd party apps but I can't load them on corporate PC
Google official sync doesn't come with the free version of GApps

Wife insists on using MS Outlook for email and Calendar 'I just want to use the same thing at home and work'
Same Google calendar sync issues although we can get third party apps like 4team to work
She is finding though that if she adds events on her corporate work PC and invites herself they show on her phone but not the PC

Any suggestions to overcome all our sync issues?
What do you guys use or could recommend
Happy to spend a modest amount to make my life easier but this is OzB so you know - cheaper = better :)
Any advice much appreciated

Computing

Comments

  • mskeggs on 01/12/2015 - 07:55

    I had almost exactly the same issue, but I don't have a perfect solution.
    I just ended up creating everything in Outlook as it makes it to my phone. I can get visibility of my partner's calendar too, via a desktop, but not via the Outlook mobile client.
    How much is it for paid apps with the Outlook official sync?
    And are you using Outlook at work too, or just her?

    • Noblejoker on 02/12/2015 - 09:14

      Google Apps for work paid comes with official sync client etc but costs $5/user/month with additional storage etc
      $60 x 4 is a lot more than free but I would pay that if it solved all my problems
      Not sure it will though as I probably can't load the Google app on the corporate PC's anyway

  • ESEMCE on 01/12/2015 - 08:17
    +1

    Outlook is a Pig for sharing calendars… you HAVE to ditch Outlook for calendaring.
    (Personally I find Outlook to be a pig for most things, can't understand people's infatuation with it! and it's not irrational Microsoft hatred, it just doesn't do a lot of things the way I want, or at all)

    I was able to install the Google Sync Client onto my work PC to push my work calendar into Google, but when you get an invite, and you accept in Google it sends an acceptance from Google (there is no way to turn this "feature" off. and the sync is only 1 way.. events added into Google Calendar do not propagate to Outlook.
    Good suggestion by mskeggs to try out Outlook.com to see if that has more luck syncing with Outlook software, but I doubt it.

  • timmypete on 01/12/2015 - 10:44
    +1

    I moved my domains from gApps to Fastmail some years back and am extremely happy. While the web app is fast and smooth enough that I've given up with mail clients on the computer and phone, the missus still insists on using Outlook. It plays fine with Outlook, as well as all other standard clients.

    Calendar sharing is a cinch - especially when the accounts are under a shared family or business plan - and the shared plans also have good contact sharing. My only real gripe is that they charge USD rather than AUD despite being in Melbourne. Support is prompt and they have a lot of advanced features should you run a complicated mail setup.

    Happy to speak by PM - including passing on an affiliate link :) - if you'd like further info.

    • ESEMCE on 01/12/2015 - 11:01

      ANd sharing Oulook Calendars?

    • Noblejoker on 02/12/2015 - 09:08

      Thanks Tplen1
      Will definitely check out Fastmail
      Any comments on the Outlook Calendar sharing and sync?
      And sure - hit me with the affiliate code too

      • timmypete on 02/12/2015 - 09:39
        +1

        I installed an open source CalDAV connector for Outlook on the one computer that needed it. Would need to check the name when home, but it's run without issue.

  • brokenglish on 01/12/2015 - 19:17
    +1

    We had similar problems, but I solved mine by opting to use the web based Google Calendar
    Sync to iPhone and Android is no problem

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