I have a small home office.
One laptop and one brand new desktop, and I rapidly move between the two. Both are running 10.5. (I was just forced to replace the desktop or it would still be 10.4)

I have one Daylite Suite license. I am running the latest version of 3.6. Daylite does not need to be open on both at the same time, so one license is fine for me.

I also use dotmac for syncing Address Book, iCal etc..

I work with someone who uses google calendar. We have not put it to use for sharing, but I'd like to.

The Daylite database lives on the laptop, and, with my old desktop, I normally connected to the database on the laptop from the desktop over the network.

I had more than my share of sync issues, but after following the advice of Howard and a few others, it was mostly under control.

Now I have this new desktop, and was setting up Daylite, and was about to enable syncing on the desktop when all of my sync nightmares popped into my head and I got cold feet. I really do not want to go through sync hell again.

I don't have any specific questions, except what should I do and what not to do in my setup?

Is dot mac syncing complicating things?

Should I be working offline on the desktop?

Can I get Google Cal working with Daylite/ical?

Would Spanning Sync help?

Should I wipe out my Apple Address Book and iCal again? (please don't say "yes")

Would it be best to hire one of you smart Daylte Partners to walk me through this?

Sorry for the rambling post....
Thanks in advance,

The main thing I would say at this point is to hold off on any attempt to sync with .mac or google. I'm not sure anyone has enough experience or success with that to give you much encouragement in that regard.

If anyone thinks differently, I'm all ears!

Just FYI: I had a similar setup and was always going on and offline between my desktop on laptop. Then I got a Macbook and found out that it was easily as capable and fast as my Dual G5 2.0GHz desktop. At that point I realized I didn't need 2 machines anymore and sold the G5. I bought a docking station for the Macbook and a 21" LCD Viewsonic display. Since then I've been very happy - when I need to leave I pull the Macbook out of the dock and when I get home I slide it back in and it feels like a really nice desktop computer. I have an external mouse and 2 monitors - the 21" LCD and the one on the laptop. No more need to sync 2 computers!

Thanks as usual for the response Howard.

Yeah, I think the dotmac sync is a large part of the problem.
Would it be best if I just worked offline on one machine and synced from Daylite regularly on both machines?

I gotta admit though, Daylite's sync ain't all that either. I posted the other day about some issues I had syncing from Address Book to Daylite. The problem was with Cards created in Address book on the desktop. They are not syncing to the database on the laptop. This is when connected to the database across the network.

That last paragraph was barely legible... sorry

I do need both machines. One is for work, and one is sort of an admin machine and secondary work machine.
Inevitably, I end up doing both on both machines. So keeping the address book up to date is crucial. iCal is not such an issue.

The setup is, FYI:
Mac Pro: Primary Work Machine-secondary admin machine
Macbook Pro: Primary Admin machine-secondary work machine.

Both are presently connected to a 24" Dell LCD and I use a Belkin KVM to hop back and forth.
They are linked via a gigabit switch.

I like the sound of the dock, I'll look into that.

I'll hold off on sync for now....

Still curious about Google Cal and Spanning Sync

Howard,

What docking station do you have for your MacBook. I haven't been able to find a good one.

James

Hi James,

I'm using the Bookendz dock. It's not the most robust looking piece of gear I've ever seen, but it's doing the job quite nicely.

http://www.bookendzdocks.com/Docking_Stations-Docking_S...3_MacBook_White.html

James,Why do you use AB and not DL straight up. I use DL only. Keeping things simple for me. Just a ?

Michael

Well I can understand your confusion about what is the best way to proceed. It's hard enough when you only have 1 machine in the mix, but 2 and adding in .mac......

I've re-read your posts several times now but I can't really get a handle on what you are accomplishing by having the 2 machines and why you switch back and forth as you do. My first thought is that one machine should have the main database and the other work offline. Then you could sync the two as needed.

Another interesting way you might work is to use one machine with the other in Target Disk mode so it would have access to all of the files, but none of the hassle of running 2 at the same time. Maybe if you could explain a little more why you do what you do it might trigger someone on the forum to give a more useful answer than mine! Sorry I couldn't come up with a perfectly easy solution for you.

Thanks for the replies guys.
Address Book is necessary for OS X Mail, as I believe it defaults to AB for auto filling addressees. Am I right on that?

I guess I could make a conscious effort to add addresses from emails to Daylite and not AB. As long as the syncing is working OK from Daylite to AB. I don't know if it is. Actually, I'm sure it isn't. For me anyway.

Howard, I did not explain myself well.

I do sound design and music. The desktop is the workhorse, and my goal is to only do audio or music work when on it.

The laptop is for admin duties (quicken, Billings, banking, etc....) and a backup and mobile audio/music machine. I also use the laptop for Skyping friends far away.

The idea behind the two machines is:
Desktop = Right Brain
Laptop = Left Brain

So the target disk idea is a good one, but won't work for me the way I am currently working.

My goal (at least in this post) is harmonious sync between both machines and all related apps.
Daylite, AB, Google Calendar, iCal I can live without. Though the "add events to iCAl" in Mail ver 3 is pretty cool...

Thanks again guys,

Jason

Hi Jason,

We work in the same field!

Anyway, you are correct in that Mail does derive it's addresses from addressbook. I think if you wait just a bit longer you'll have a new release of Daylite with a lot of fixes for syncing (3.6).

After that you might be in good shape with that. As far as the rest, why not make the desktop computer an offline database for Daylite and sync it up periodically as needed?

Cool Howard!
Good to have a creative audio ally here in the forums.
I'm working on gunshots and city ambience at the moment. What are you working on?
I started this thread a while ago that you may find interesting:
http://forums.marketcircle.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3261001833/m/7351065984

I am presently using the 3.6 beta. I do hope the final build will have improved syncing.

The desktop being the offline database is what I've been leaning towards. Just was not sure why I should do that. Other than performance and just keeping things simple. Which are probably good enough reasons.


Thanks again,

Jason

Well, in a funny way that is what I'm working on: keeping things simple!

When I say I'm in the same field, I am not currently working on a project in the sense you are, but instead rep a manufacturer of audio mixers and wireless microphones. I do also have a commercial studio in NYC that specializes in VO's for radio and TV, etc. One of the ridiculous, yet promising new things we are doing is audio for virtual worlds, i.e. Second Life!

Hi Howard,

I can add some clarity to why one would want to be a single user, have a single license and use Daylite on 2 computers.

I work in audio pretty close to what Jason does. I have a recording studio about 3 miles from my apt and I'm there every couple days. There's a G5 that stays there for audio and Daylite.

I have a powerbook at home for field work that also has Daylite.

I want to have everything synced between these two so when at the studio with an artist I can enter right then when we worked and on what and even use Billings right then to send a receipt or invoice. On the days I work at home with and artist I want to enter right there and then what we did and when and even use Billings right then to send a receipt or invoice. I guess it's trying to get Daylite to work like it's always on the web - like Zoho or something - but we know Daylite's better.

My only idea: can I tell Daylite on both comps to look to a USB stick to store all databases and such? I have a Pearl 8100 with a 2 gig card that acts as a USB drive and I always have it with me. If not, what's the best approach?

I admit I don't understand the offline/online thing. I always though online was on the internet. Do you use online/offline to mean something else? I also don't have a server, or any internet network setup between thse 2 comps since I don't know how but I'll learn if you say that's the best automatic method.

thanks, people

So I've been working offline on the desktop since my last post, and it has simplified things a bit.

Going offline, as I understand it, creates a separate local database from what is considered the "main" database. You have the option of synchronizing the offline database to the main database whenever you want, which is what I've been doing, and it seems to be working well. So I can work all week on the desktop, synchronize it to the laptop, go to Starbuck's with my laptop, and it will have all the info I entered all week.

Not sure that a USB thumb drive is a good solution. Maybe get a second opinion on the offline option, but it seems to be working for me. You will need to connect the two machines via airport or ethernet. Getting Daylite to talk will take a little effort, but I prefer the network options Daylite offers. I look forward to Billings having a similar option.