There are many techniques for keeping
your Outlook information on two different machines. However,
Microsoft has not released a synchronization utility for Outlook.
Listed below are three methods which do not require third party
tools, along with tools that will sync two Outlook's.
If
you use a Palm device, PocketPC, other PDA, check to see whether your
synchronization software allows you to synchronize the device with
more than one computer. If so, you may be able to use the PDA as an
intermediary to synchronize two computers:
Computer 1 <-> PDA <-> Computer 2
Good backups on both computers would be essential to ensure that
you can always roll back to a previously synchronized set of data. See
Synchronizing Microsoft Outlook with a
PDA for tools.
Windows Briefcase
This
solution comes from F.E. Froelich:
I think I have found a relatively painless way to
share Microsoft Outlook between my laptop, which I
travel with, and my desktop without having to connect
the two computers together.
I created a directory for the two Outlook files
Mailbox.pab and Mailbox.pst. I then copied the directory
into My Briefcase. I then placed My
Briefcase onto a disk. (I have a Zip drive on both
computers, so I keep a Zip disk with nothing but My
Briefcase on it for sharing files between my laptop and
desktop.) I then deleted the Mailbox.pab and Mailbox.pst
files from my laptop and copied the two files from My
Briefcase into a directory on the laptop.
When I am ready to leave with the laptop, I put the
My Briefcase Zip disk into the desktop and update the
files, then put the same disk into my laptop and update.
When I come back, I reverse the sequence. So far it
seems to work.
As an aside, I have copied the entire My Documents
directory into My Briefcase on the same Zip disk. Now
all of my Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access files are
kept up to date between the two computers. When I create
a new file or subdirectory on one computer, it is
automatically added to the other computer the next time
I do an update. This approach is much more efficient
than trying to make sure that I have placed all of the
individual files that I need into My Briefcase. There is
no better way to manage My Briefcase than with a Zip
drive (unless you have a LAN).
(Editors note: If you don't have a Zip drive, you can use a
USB key instead.)
Windows
2000 (and later) offer a feature for taking files offline, but by
default, it excludes Personal Folders .pst files. However, you can
edit the system policy that controls the file types so that .pst
files can be included. See
Error Message Files of This Type Cannot Be Made Available Offline.
The Davton Contact Synchroniser will synchronise contacts in one contact folder to another. It is designed to synchronise shared contacts from a ‘Public Folder’ to a personal folder - so that the contacts can be syncronised to a PDA using ActiveSync. It is a one way synchronization - changes made in the local folder or on the PDA will not be reflected back to the Public folder. The synchroniser can filter the contacts it copies to your local folder, based on categories. Free.
Easy2Sync for Outlook keeps your personal store in sync on multiple computers. Try the free version which only synchronizes the inbox and outbox, the Home-Edition to sync all email folders, or the Business-Edition which synchronizes all folder types.The updated version features a reworked "automatic start" dialog and an protection against accidential closing of the program.
Davton EnterpriseSync is a multi-mailbox automated tool to copy items from Microsoft Exchange Public Folders to folders in user’s mailboxes. This enables syncing of public folder items with Blackberries, iPhones and other PDAs. It runs as a service and requires no installation on the clients computer making it ideal for managing groups of users. EnterpriseSync provides a one way synchronisation to protect the integrity of the central contacts. It has the ability to sync Contacts, Tasks and Calendar Items; filter items to be copied based on the category of the item; copy from up to three central folders into one local folder per item type. Free 15 day trial and remote installation support.
EZOutlookSync will keep 2 or more copies of MS Outlook always up-to-date. EZOutlookSync will transfer only changed data, making synchronizations real quick and unobtrusive. Works on Outlook 2000/2002/2003.
Use OsaSync to share or synchronize your Outlook contacts, calendar, and tasks with one or more other computers on your network. All changes made to a shared Outlook item are automatically reflected in the item on the other computer(s). Supports fully automatic synchronization--just connect your computer to the network or the internet (if synchronizing via FTP) and start Outlook. OsaSync process all the changes for you. OsaSync is available in PRO (v. 6.3.1) and Lite (v. 8.2) versions and supports Outlook 2000 and later.
Synchronizes data between two machines running Outlook through a small data file that can be emailed, accessed on a shared network folder, or transferred any other way you might transfer a file. Includes conflict resolution feature.
Use PSTSync to perform Outlook synchronizations, helping you synchronize every Outlook folder, even custom created ones. PSTSync provides bi-directional folder synchronization as well as a number of other tools to help you manage your pst files with ease, PSTSync offers SmartMove and SmartCopy functionality as well as Encryption, Password Protection, Online Backup as well as the popular built in PST file viewer. It takes into consideration the time and date in calendar according to GMT, not just your local time ( a PSTSync exclusive)Version 2.6.0
Synchronizes data between Outlook PST files (for example: PC workstation to notebook) and in addition "Personal Folders" of Exchange with PST files in both directions. All folders or selected folders can be synchronized. Supports an "escalation inquiry" by reciprocally changed entries and against the unintentional deletion of data. Supports Outlook 97 through Outlook 2003.
Copies items between Outlook folders. Can be used to synchronize folders between PST files on two different machines, copy calendar entries to a public folder, or back up data to another PST file. (Version 1.6)
Synchronize Microsoft Outlook data between multiple PCs using external USB device, shared network folder, your own or free FTP service. Share and Sync Outlook Calendar and Contacts folders with Google Calendar service and Gmail. Now supports synchronization of Google Contacts.
Synchronize Microsoft Outlook PST files. Sync Outlook folders between multiple PCs without a server using an external USB device or shared network folder (LAN), and a shared PST file. Version 1.20.0149.
SynchPst for Outlook synchronizes data between personal folders. Choose either single or multiple folders, with or without subfolders, and synchronize them quickly and efficiently. Version 3.1.4
SYNCING.NET for Outlook is a full featured solution for synchronization of Microsoft Outlook data between multiple computers. All data is transmitted directly between the computers via LAN/WLAN and/or the internet (peer-to-peer). Once selected, the Outlook data is synchronized completely automatically. Users don't need to do anything more and can work with Outlook as usual. Any changes to Outlook items are transferred immediately to all members of the sync network.
Davton SyncManager is an automated tool to copy items from Microsoft Exchange Public Folders to folders in a user’s mailbox. This enables syncing of public folder items with Blackberries, iPhones and other PDAs. SyncManager provides a one way synchronisation to protect the integrity of the central contacts. It has the ability to: sync Contacts, Tasks and Calendar Items; filter items to be copied based on the category of the item; copy from up to three central folders into one local folder per item type – ie 3 x Contacts, 3 x Tasks, 3 x Calendar. Free 15 day trial.
Configuration and Maintenance Issues 
How to move the IMAP personal folder
