Your Questions: MobileME

Is the sync with MobileMe function between multiple MacBook Pro machines really the bomb?

I can tell you MobileMe works as touted.  The switch from .mac to MobileMe was not Apple’s best rollout, but life appears to have improved and MobileMe does what it’s supposed to do.  I have tested it with my calendar and contacts and it handled even the oddities in each app really well (my information isn’t always neat and simple).  The online interface is clean and easy to use which was important for me, but may not be as important for you if you always have one of your sync’d devices available.

Is it da bomb?  That depends.

Key factors are:  the number/location of devices you need to keep in sync and the applications you use.  Work patterns are a factor as well, but will be covered as we discuss the other two.

Let’s start with the devices.  If you have multiple devices in multiple locations, some sort of syncing service is almost essential.  Otherwise you’re doing double entry to keep your information current everywhere you work (or dragging the devices to the same location to sync).  Even if your devices are always in the same location and easily sync’d manually, a service like MobileMe can be exceedingly handy. 

The key is that it’s automatic:

• First, it eliminates having to remember to sync*.  Who needs one more thing to remember or to do, especially after a long trip.
• Secondly, it eliminates the time delay between syncs because let’s face it, we’re not going to sync every time we make a change.  Additionally, we may not always have the time to sync before running out the door, or we may think we won’t need the info, yet we’ve all been there when we wish we had something we know is sitting at home or the office.
• A third advantage is that if you share a computer with a business partner or spouse, they also have (essentially) real time access to any information you’ve just modified and vice-versa.  This can be a great help with contacts and calendars in particular.
• And I’m going to add the fourth advantage mentioned above that the information is also online if you’re away from your devices.

So if you can afford it and you maneuver between devices and locations pretty regularly, yeah … I think it’s worth it.  You’ll save a lot of time and mental energy – and you’ll have automated backups of essential information to boot.  Add the iDisk and Gallery features, plus a few other Mac specific tools such as iWeb hosting even with your own domain, and MobileMe is one of the better syncing options if you are working exclusively with Apple devices, as is the case with this question.

BUT … (FEELS LIKE THERE’S ALWAYS A BUT, DOESN’T IT?)

I can see a few scenarios where MobileMe may not be “the bomb” depending on your desires and finances.

1. You have multiple computers in your home or office but don’t need to share contacts, calendars or other features.  In this case, you might use multiple computers (e.g. to type a quick document or search the web) but you’re not using the information on multiple computers.  So no need to sync them.
2. Also, realize that email sync is primarily for .Me mail.  It’s not syncing your other email accts.  Yes, you can route your other accts to .Me and work it that way, but you’re still funneling to .Me and that presents it’s own set of pluses/minuses.
3. That leads us to the point made earlier that some of your decision will be based upon the apps you use.  MobileMe works just fine with Outlook and based on a chat I had with Apple, it works equally fine with Entourage.  (I haven’t tested it because I have no need or desire to use a .Me acct and don’t have the capacity to test other acct setups right now.)  But you do need to realize that the mail examples used in the MobileMe video tour are using .Me mail accts and the Apple Mail app.  Others will require some setup.  Also, if you use Entourage as opposed to iCal or Address Book, you’ll need to set up some syncing between Entourage and these apps.  It can be done; I’ve done it in the past.  But take that into consideration.

ALL THAT SAID…

If you use multiple devices – particularly shared devices – and have the money, I’d pay for it.  In my opinion, your email needs are the biggest item to think through, but even having calendars/contacts/bookmarks sync without thinking and being able to use iDisk and other features would be worth it to me.  As mentioned, the bonus is that you’ve also addressed some of your backup needs and iDisk only adds to your backup and sharing options.

It’s all about the money so think through your needs and work scenarios AND do the 60-day FREE trial.  You’ll know by then whether it’s worth it.  Just don’t forget to set a calendar item to ding to cancel if you don’t want it.

MobileMe is a good app and as one who has dealt with the “information on WAY too many devices but not all coordinated” monster, $99 is an excellent mental energy and time-saving investment if you have it.  And sometimes it just comes down to spending the money to make your life less stressful.  That’s good bang-for-your-minutes too…

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*For you techies, yes you can automate iSync to run automatically via an AppleScript, but it still must be scheduled and will not occur automatically upon reading a change.

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