*: 209724 S11/100/200LX General
#   04-Apr-95  16:41:10
Sb: #Intellilink
Fm: Bob Davis 73377,1042
To: All
Replies:   2

I received a copy of Intellilink software last Friday and have been
evaluating it.  My objective was to be able to synchronize my 200LX
calendar with Microsoft Schedule+ (included in Windows for Wordgroups
3.11).

After successful installation and using it a couple of days, I conclude
that it is inadequate and I will return it for a refund.  I am
disappointed, especially in a very specialized piece of software that
performs a very limited function, yet sells for $99.00.

Here are some notes on my discovery.

1. The product is well put together and there were no real kinks or
quirks.  It works solidly.  It should be noted that this is a package
that covers many, many scheduling and database packages.  It not only
covers a wide range of hosts such as Lotus Organizer, Dbase, and
Schedule+, but also a range of PDA's like Sharp, Casio, Psion, and HP
Palmtop. The net result is that you buy a very weighty package that
includes a lot of software that is never used.  The host side (Windows
based) package takes a full 4 mb of disk space.  I was flabbergasted.

2. There is a client side that loads on the Palmtop.  Or if you prefer,
you can use laplink and Intellilink will work with the files as if they
are local.  I found the client and host supplied by Intellilink provided
solid communications with no errors or retries.  It works on files by
copying the palmtop database to the host, merging, than copying back.
This is all automated.

3. The really fundamental flaw in the whole package is that it does not
provide a synchronize function.  It will merge (add) appointments from
one database or the other. This merge also will only work in one
direction at a time.  There is no provision for reconciling differences
between the databases unless there is a direct conflict.  This is a
disaster as far as I am concerned.  For example, suppose I schedule an
appointment on my palmtop, then merge the database to my Schedule+.
Later the appointment is cancelled and I delete it from the Palmtop.
Intellink will never know.  In fact if you merge from Schedule+ back to
the palmtop, the appointment will reappear!

4. When merging from Schedule+ to the Palmtop, Intellilink will only
handle appointments in the future (after today). It will not deal with
appointments for today!!!!

5. Events on the palmtop are translated to appointments at midnight.
Perhaps that is all that can be done, but its virtually useless.

6. Infrared connections are not supported unless you use laplink.

In my opinion, this package could have realized my required
functionality, but they made some fatal design omissions, which is
really surprising.  I thought it was pushing the limits of price when I
bought it.  Now, having seen it, its not worth buying at any price, in
my opinion.

Bob 



*: 209797 S11/100/200LX General
!   04-Apr-95  23:40:18
Sb: #209724-Intellilink
Fm: Joe Fahey 75362,2674
To: Bob Davis 73377,1042 (X)
Replies:   0

Thanks very much for the review. If you can figure out a good way to
synchronize the PIM functions on the HP with a good PC based PIM, you
will be a hero! Again, thanks for trying and thanks even more for
sharing with the rest of us.

-Joe



*: 209828 S11/100/200LX General
)   05-Apr-95  04:09:04
Sb: #209724-Intellilink
Fm: Ruedi Sommer 100016,1276
To: Bob Davis 73377,1042 (X)
Replies:   0

Bob, why are you using two schedulers, the one on your palmtop and
another one on the desktop? I'm using Intellilink since over a year.
Whilst it may be true that there are some functions missing as you
explain, I'm satisfied whith what I got. The main ponit is, however,
that at a certain stage I decided to use only one scheduler. This could
be on paper (as some of my colleagues do), on the desktop (as others do)
or on a palmtop or PDA. So I decided to use only the palmtop since I'm
away from my desk quite a lot. That created problems with our department
secreatry, as she couldn't any longer copy my TimeSystem. So we puchased
Intellilink in several copies, that helps the others using Sharps and
Casios, helps me with my HP100 and most of all helps the department
secreatry, because she uses Lotus Organizer on the desktop. So all of us
with PDA or palmtops use Intellilink once or twice a day for back ing up
into Lotus Organizer on the desktop. Intellilink gives us sufficient
flexibility with the replace/backup functions built in. For me the most
important thing was when I decided to use only ONE scheduler and then
stick to it and use the nice looking GUI on the desktop only for b/u.


*: 209953 S11/100/200LX General
!   05-Apr-95  14:09:05
Sb: #209828-#Intellilink
Fm: Bob Davis 73377,1042
To: Ruedi Sommer 100016,1276 (X)
Replies:   1

>>So all of us with PDA or palmtops use Intellilink once or twice a day
for backing up into Lotus Organizer on the desktop. Intellilink gives us
sufficient flexibility with the replace/backup functions built in.<<

I note that you are interfacing to Organizer.  I interfaced to
schedule+.  There was no replace/backup function that I could find when
interfaced to Schedule+

>>For me the most important thing was when I decided to use only ONE
scheduler and then stick to it and use the nice looking GUI on the
desktop only for b/u.<<

Your situation is not mine.  I expressed my opinion based on my needs.
Your situation is obviously such that you can do all of your own
scheduling yourself and keep it directly on your palmtop.  Then all you
have to do is give a copy to your secretary.  Even if this was how I
worked, I repeat that Intellilink will not DELETE an appointment on
Schedule+, when I delete it on my palmtop. It only merges (adds).  There
is no other function available for going to schedule+.  Did I miss
something?

Secondly, there is a fundamental difference in how I work compared to
you.  I am a division director with high demands on my schedule.  I have
an understanding with my secretary that I block out windows of time
available for her to make appointments for me.  It simply will not work
for everyone to have to confirm an appointment with me personnally so I
can put it into my palmtop.  If Intellilink synchronized, instead of
merged, it would allow us to work together.  Since it does not, its
useless to me and we 'll continue to coordinate with each other
verbally. We have a voicemail system and it works fairly well for her to
just leave me a voice mail on new appointments she has made. Likewise I
manually enter new or changed appointments from my palmtop when I'm at
my desk.  If Intellilink worked as I think it should, it would help this
scenario considerably.

If you have any further thoughts on improving my situation, I would
greatly appreciate it.  If there is an option or function I overlooked
in Intellilink, I would also be interested in knowing that.

Bob



*: 210252 S11/100/200LX General
!   06-Apr-95  15:14:00
Sb: #209828-Intellilink
Fm: Larry Baldwin 71165,365
To: Ruedi Sommer 100016,1276
Replies:   0

Ruedi,

<< why are you using two schedulers, the one on your palmtop and another
one on the desktop? >>

With Schedule+ and WFW, the concept is people "invite" you to their
meetings (the program checks the free time of all invitees) and you
accept or decline with the click of the mouse and the appointment is
entered into your schedule.

Therefore, for work appointments, Schedule+ has to know of all your
appointments in order to establish your free time.

The majority of my meetings are scheduled by other people. (up to 10
adds/changes/deletes per day)

The personal appointments I schedule at home may have an affect on my
work day, ie. doctor/dentist/banking etc during work hours. This time
has to be entered (blocked out) on the PC to prevent double booking of
appointments..

At 5:30 in the morning, I rely on viewing my appointments for the coming
day.

I am forced to use Schedule+ at work to meet the requirements of my
co-workers (he**, its not even a good program, except for the workgroup
capability) therefore, the only way to eliminate dual data entry and
sychronize problems is to get rid of the palmtop. WELL...THIS JUST ISN'T
GOING TO HAPPEN, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER......I've just got to calm down and
look for a program thats going to synchronize two different appointment
book files, thats all

<< For me the most important thing was when I decided to use only ONE
scheduler and then stick to it and use the nice looking GUI on the
desktop only for b/u.>>

If I had the choice, this is the camp I would be in....

Larry

There is 1 Reply.





*: 210251 S11/100/200LX General
)   06-Apr-95  15:13:15
Sb: #209724-Intellilink
Fm: Larry Baldwin 71165,365
To: Bob Davis 73377,1042 (X)
Replies:   0

Bob,

Thanks, these are the types of comments I have been waiting for, as I
also hoped to synchronize my 200LX calendar with Microsoft Schedule+
(Windows for Wordgroups 3.11).

Right now, I'll hold the order I have on my desk for this product.

From the content of your message, and your conclusions, I can see that
you gave the software a fairly good test.

But........because I had such high hopes for this product, based on the
claims of Intellink, is it possible that some of this problems might
have been solved by modifying commands/flags/switches, etc. Did
Intellink confirm your findings?

<<  The host side (Windows based) package takes a full 4 mb of disk
space.>>

Is it possible to delete files that are not required?

<< The really fundamental flaw in the whole package is that it does not
provide a synchronize function.>>

The synchronize function was THE reason I needed the program. A simple
merge just dosn't cut it.

This is a disappointment, as I must continue to data enter appointments
in both the palmtop and PC. (lately, up to 10 adds/deletes/mods a day,
and I won't even use the task list on Schedule+ }

Thanks for you're comments, if you or anyone else has any other findings
that might improve on the evaluation of this software, please let me
know. Until then, its back into the search mode.....

Larry

*: 211212 S8/100/200LX New Users
!   09-Apr-95  22:30:14
Sb: #210650-200LX and PC calendars
Fm: Bob Davis 73377,1042
To: Wick Smith 74774,154
Replies:   0

>> I intend to buy a 200LX 2MB. However, I use the calendar and schedule
function of WordPerfect Office on my office computer. I would really
like to be able to upload information from the 200LX into the WP Office
calendar.<<

I had such dreams when I purchased my 200LX.  I found two things. First,
I quit using my PC based calendar except to keep my secretary informed.
I use the 200LX exclusively for keeping track of everything and my PC
PIM is gathering dust.  I had Lotus organizer and deleted it.  I keep
schedule+ solely to let me secretary informed via the network.

I have yet to find a program that synchs 200LX calendar with a desktop
properly.  See my messsages on Intellilink.

I have continued to manuall synchronize my 200LX and desktop calendars.
Its no all that much trouble.  You just have to remember to do it
regularly.

Bob 

*: 211196 S11/100/200LX General
!   09-Apr-95  21:44:14
Sb: #210251-Intellilink
Fm: Bob Davis 73377,1042
To: Larry Baldwin 71165,365 (X)
Replies:   0

>>But........because I had such high hopes for this product, based on
the claims of Intellink, is it possible that some of this problems might
have been solved by modifying commands/flags/switches, etc. Did
Intellink confirm your findings?<<

I heard back from Intellilink on Friday.  I sent a fax to them Thursday
evening, so their tech support is pretty responsive. Unfortunately, they
confirmed all of my findings as correct.

Regarding the issue of not processing today's appointments, they
acknowledged that as a problem that will be addressed.  They gave me a
workaround and said software will be available on compuserve to fix this
problem sometime in the future.

But the fact that their software only merges (adds) fell on deaf ears.
I received an explanation as to why they could not do anything else than
a merge.  They apparently they feel the whole process must be totally
automatic and fool proof or they will not implement it.  I fired back a
two page retort, plus copies of messages from this conference.  Let's
see how they respond. Basically I pointed them to the HP connectivity
pack which offers both a merge and a synchronize option.  I indicated
that a synchron ize option will require user intervention to resolve
schedule differences, but that's ok, since I want to know there are
differences.

If I do not have a positive response by Tuesday, the software will be in
the return mail.  They only give you 35 days from date of invoice (not
date of receipt) to return the software.

Bob 


Author's note: Intellink never acknowledged nor replied to any of my
faxes.
