Outlook BCN disappointment

[chris]

I'm sharing Outlook data, emails, contacts and so on between a PC and
a Laptop through a small LAN. The active pst file is on the PC, the
laptop points to the same file, only on user can access the pst file
at any one time is the limitation I learned to live with. I run a
small business and splashed out big purchasing Office 2003 to get
Outlook with Business Contact Manager BCM.

It now feels like I made a totally ill informed decision and wasted a
lot of good money, actually I feel mislead by MS because nowhere in
the sales promotion material of which there is plenty was there any
reference that standard Outlook procedures will no longer work. As far
as I understand it now BCM data can not be shared between the PC and
the Laptop.

One could perhaps backup the relevant files and load them in to the
other devise when ever switching systems but I consider that
unworkable and fraught with possible problems as one could easily loss
data by using the wrong set of files when switching several times a
day.

Please let me know your experience with BCM, does anyone know of a
work around for the problem to share BCM data?

Thank you for your help
Chris

 

[Rob Schneider]

I'm sharing Outlook data, emails, contacts and so on between a PC and
a Laptop through a small LAN. The active pst file is on the PC, the
laptop points to the same file, only on user can access the pst file
at any one time is the limitation I learned to live with. I run a
small business and splashed out big purchasing Office 2003 to get
Outlook with Business Contact Manager BCM.

It now feels like I made a totally ill informed decision and wasted a
lot of good money, actually I feel mislead by MS because nowhere in
the sales promotion material of which there is plenty was there any
reference that standard Outlook procedures will no longer work. As far
as I understand it now BCM data can not be shared between the PC and
the Laptop.

One could perhaps backup the relevant files and load them in to the
other devise when ever switching systems but I consider that
unworkable and fraught with possible problems as one could easily loss
data by using the wrong set of files when switching several times a
day.

Please let me know your experience with BCM, does anyone know of a
work around for the problem to share BCM data?

Thank you for your help
Chris

BCM is a single user, single computer application. That's pretty clear.
I also suspect it's a Version 1 product "thrown in" for free now, but
later will stand on it's own. And given Microsoft's directions in the
high-end CRM market.

Since the data is in a MSDE Database (essentially a SQL Server), it's
not as easily movable from machine to machine. I am sure it possible to
write code to extanct and move the data around, but it would take some
work. Perhaps by searchig on Google you can find where someone has
written this application. (I wonder what the market for it would be, and
for how long)?

Also, this problem of moving data between laptops and desktops is
something faced with all applications. I always advise people to simply
avoid it. Don't use two machines. Use one machine. That generally
means picking the laptop. Buy an external keyboard and monitor for use
in office. Just "plug" in to the keyboad, monitor, and nework when in
Office and un-plug when you go away. Don't try to keep moving data all
the time. Just too complicated. Use the desktop via network (remote
access), or as a file server to the laptop. Use the dekstop to hold
"backups" not raw data.

At this juncture it's easier and more secure to your business to change
your mind set slightly rather than try to fight the software or its vendor.

 

[chris]

BCM is a single user, single computer application. That's pretty clear.
I also suspect it's a Version 1 product "thrown in" for free now, but
later will stand on it's own. And given Microsoft's directions in the
high-end CRM market.

Since the data is in a MSDE Database (essentially a SQL Server), it's
not as easily movable from machine to machine. I am sure it possible to
write code to extanct and move the data around, but it would take some
work. Perhaps by searchig on Google you can find where someone has
written this application. (I wonder what the market for it would be, and
for how long)?

Also, this problem of moving data between laptops and desktops is
something faced with all applications. I always advise people to simply
avoid it. Don't use two machines. Use one machine. That generally
means picking the laptop. Buy an external keyboard and monitor for use
in office. Just "plug" in to the keyboad, monitor, and nework when in
Office and un-plug when you go away. Don't try to keep moving data all
the time. Just too complicated. Use the desktop via network (remote
access), or as a file server to the laptop. Use the dekstop to hold
"backups" not raw data.

At this juncture it's easier and more secure to your business to change
your mind set slightly rather than try to fight the software or its vendor.

Dear Rob,
Having had time to sleep over my message I was truly surprised to find
your lengthy effort trying to guide me. Thank you very much to you.

I actually thought that MS might filter my message because of my
accusation of feeling mislead by MS and so on.

What I hadn't expressed in the first message was that my business
partner (daughter) uses the PC all day, I use the laptop most of the
time and we share Outlook e.g.: "can you go out of Outlook for a few
minutes, I need to send a few messages" that sort of thing.

Well, obviously I didn't do my homework properly when deciding on
Outlook with BCM as it is totally useless in our scenario. My
experience with ACT was that it is unstable and it looks like I will
have to knife and fork my own bcm for a while to come.
Once again, I very much appreciate your attempt to help. Have a
great day and year.
Chris Kindermann
PS: it is very much summertime and hot here today in Brisbane ,
Australia. Where on earth are you?

 

[Guest]

Guy

My 2.5 cents worth on this topic..

BCM Issues/Gripes
* Unable to utilise Contacts shared on network from Exchange or Windows SharePoint Services (specifically with SBS2003
* "Opportunities" and "Business History" are only viewable in the Folders List or in Outlook 2003 Navigation Pane, Tasks or not at all, respectively (well also hidden in the Business Tools, Other... menu, but really...
* Unable to change any default form variables, such as "Territory" sales region variables to those relevant (many sales regions are not compass-based territories, rather city or state based); other form variables that should be configurable are "Source of Lead" so relevant sales source items can be utilised, such as Product Sample Request, Customer Enquiry, etc can be adde
* and NO it is NOT clear that BCM is single & standalone, especially when there is minimum pre sales information, documentation or help files available (as at Jan 2004 when we purchased), in recent months there has been an increase in statements, articles and information on Microsoft's web site stating that BCM is Single User/Standalone - this is NOT good enough: users/customers do not operate "standalone", in this networked world MS must step up to the plate and provide apps that at least will function in a network environment, even if only for a single user licence - there seems to be a gross misunderstanding at MS Marketing between protecting their CRM product and what small business users require with this one.
* Microsoft must clairfy how BCM will operate in a shared office environment of which most business computer users operate in... shared contacts? multple users? roaming profiles? SharePoint Services? HELP
* and NO BCM is NOT a 'freebie" thrown in with Office 2003 - it is available ONLY with either Office 2003 Pro or Office 2003 SBE which are at additional COS

Microsoft please listen to your customers and help, either via patches or appropriate documentation or at least by providing a dedicated Microsoft Newsgroup for BCM so that we can resolve these issues moe easily ourselves in the public forum

Whew, that feels good to get that off my chest! Hope someone at Microsoft reads this, takes note and actions something that helps us customers out

CC'd to Office Online Feedback @microsoft.co

Thanks and regard
Marty Hauvill

----- chris wrote: ----

chris wrote
I also suspect it's a Version 1 product "thrown in" for free now, but
later will stand on it's own. And given Microsoft's directions in the
high-end CRM market.
not as easily movable from machine to machine. I am sure it possible to
write code to extanct and move the data around, but it would take some
work. Perhaps by searchig on Google you can find where someone has
written this application. (I wonder what the market for it would be, and
for how long)?
something faced with all applications. I always advise people to simply
avoid it. Don't use two machines. Use one machine. That generally
means picking the laptop. Buy an external keyboard and monitor for use
in office. Just "plug" in to the keyboad, monitor, and nework when in
Office and un-plug when you go away. Don't try to keep moving data all
the time. Just too complicated. Use the desktop via network (remote
access), or as a file server to the laptop. Use the dekstop to hold
"backups" not raw data.
your mind set slightly rather than try to fight the software or its vendor.

Dear Rob,
Having had time to sleep over my message I was truly surprised to find
your lengthy effort trying to guide me. Thank you very much to you.

I actually thought that MS might filter my message because of my
accusation of feeling mislead by MS and so on.

What I hadn't expressed in the first message was that my business
partner (daughter) uses the PC all day, I use the laptop most of the
time and we share Outlook e.g.: "can you go out of Outlook for a few
minutes, I need to send a few messages" that sort of thing.

Well, obviously I didn't do my homework properly when deciding on
Outlook with BCM as it is totally useless in our scenario. My
experience with ACT was that it is unstable and it looks like I will
have to knife and fork my own bcm for a while to come.
Once again, I very much appreciate your attempt to help. Have a
great day and year.
Chris Kindermann
PS: it is very much summertime and hot here today in Brisbane ,
Australia. Where on earth are you?

 

[pheonix1t]

Guys

My 2.5 cents worth on this topic...

BCM Issues/Gripes:
* Unable to utilise Contacts shared on network from Exchange or Windows SharePoint Services (specifically with SBS2003)
* "Opportunities" and "Business History" are only viewable in the Folders List or in Outlook 2003 Navigation Pane, Tasks or not at all, respectively (well also hidden in the Business Tools, Other... menu, but really...)
* Unable to change any default form variables, such as "Territory" sales region variables to those relevant (many sales regions are not compass-based territories, rather city or state based); other form variables that should be configurable are "Source of Lead" so relevant sales source items can be utilised, such as Product Sample Request, Customer Enquiry, etc can be added
* and NO it is NOT clear that BCM is single & standalone, especially when there is minimum pre sales information, documentation or help files available (as at Jan 2004 when we purchased), in recent months there has been an increase in statements, articles and information on Microsoft's web site stating that BCM is Single User/Standalone - this is NOT good enough: users/customers do not operate "standalone", in this networked world MS must step up to the plate and provide apps that at least will function in a network environment, even if only for a single user licence - there seems to be a gross misunderstanding at MS Marketing between protecting their CRM product and what small business users require with this one.
* Microsoft must clairfy how BCM will operate in a shared office environment of which most business computer users operate in... shared contacts? multple users? roaming profiles? SharePoint Services? HELP!
* and NO BCM is NOT a 'freebie" thrown in with Office 2003 - it is available ONLY with either Office 2003 Pro or Office 2003 SBE which are at additional COST

Microsoft please listen to your customers and help, either via patches or appropriate documentation or at least by providing a dedicated Microsoft Newsgroup for BCM so that we can resolve these issues moe easily ourselves in the public forum.

Whew, that feels good to get that off my chest! Hope someone at Microsoft reads this, takes note and actions something that helps us customers out!

CC'd to Office Online Feedback @microsoft.com

That's why Microsoft has been ruled a MONOPOLY in the courts.........do
you really think they give a rat's ass about you? All they care about
is finding new ways to squeeze money out of the clueless herds of people
collectively known as "business users".....however the "people" are
starting to show signs of life and disappointment with Microsoft.
But will enough of the "regular" people realize that it's better to stay
away from Microsoft..........only time will tell...