Hello Google Calendar... Goodbye Outlook
This is going to sound dopey, but the only reason I load Microsoft Outlook is to use the calendar. You heard right: I don't use Outlook for e-mail. I don't like about Outlook's e-mail feature--opening a separate window for each message I'm replying to defies logic and I've always found Outlook's Contacts cumbersome.
Google's Calendar A few weeks ago I started playing with Google's online calendar. For my minimal scheduling needs, it's a handy tool. I can do many of the same things I do in Outlook: quickly add events, change views (day, week, month, next four days), get appointment reminders (e-mail or pop-ups), share the calendar (public or private), and add recurring events. And I could get SMS notifications if my phone supported it.
In a few keystrokes, I was able to add a calendar button to the Google toolbar in my browser. (Do it from the toolbar's Options.)
One last neat plus: I absolutely love the idea of getting to my calendar from any PC with Internet access. For lots more details, take a look at Google's help page.
Import Outlook's Events to Google's Calendar Importing Outlook's events into Google's calendar is painless. Google has step-by-step instructions and there's only one tricky part. Step five says:
In Google Calendar, ensure that you've created the calendar that you'd like to migrate events to. Then, at the top of the calendar list on the left, click the "Add" down-arrow button and select "Import Calendar."
I struggled and took ten minutes until I finally found the spot they were talking about. Check my screen capture that shows you the location.
When importing, here's where to go
Fun and Games With Google's Calendar My colleague, Lincoln Spector, stumbled on a Google Calendar bug. Start by creating an appointment in Google calendar for an event happening at your own home. In the Where field, type "Here" and then set up an e-mail reminder. When you receive the reminder, open it and click on the map link. You'll discover that "Here" is in Duingt, France.
PC World's Marketplace
PC World's Free Whitepapers
tech news tech blogs community & forums laptop prices software reviews downloads
One (backhanded) advantage of Outlook: At least from there you can export to Google Calendar and Gmail. Those of us using Palm and Eudora are shafted.
I'm sold as soon as someone can tell me how to sync GCal with my blackberry calendar, or otherwise view & add to my calendar and get alerts easily from the bb web.
Anyone?
Transferring information from Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar and back again can be quite simple with sync solutions available from 3rd party companies. Just check out the Google Enterprise Gallery and see what strikes your fancy. http://www.google.com/enterprise/gallery/apps/calendar.html
-Calgoo
www.calgoo.com
_____________________
Excellent resource, Calgoo. Thanks. --Steve
Windows Live Calendar does all the same stuff and you can even import your Google calendar into Live Calendar.
Shill without the Hate
I don't understand the need to slam an entirely useful MS tool every time some fanboy journalist goes goo goo over some v1.0 google tool. You can shill for google all you want but why not cut the juvenile '90s slams against MS tools that have served us all a heluva lot longer than goog.