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- - e r i k - - · Mar 9, 2008, 10:25 PM

Wary of signing up to Yet-Another-Web-Service-I-Will-Never-Use, I have skipped out on Plaxo for now. But when we recently started using Google calendars at work - being in a mixed PC and Mac environment, I was looking into getting it synced with iCal for the Mac users using Spanning Sync.

After reading the not-so-positive reviews of it, and seeing several mention Plaxo as a solution I decided to look into it. Basically what it does is create a persistent calendar/address book online that is synced across all your services (Mac, Gmail, Gcal, Outlook etc.). The thing is - it works really really well, better than iSync even. The Mac client is integrated directly into address book and mail, syncing the updates live (as opposed to iSyncs scheduled or manual syncs). It also integrated directly in Mail as well.

Their (new?) web interface is pretty slick too, taking a page from Facebook. It aims to consolidate your online life as well (Flickr, Facebook, MySpace etc. etc.) and seems to do a fairly decent job of it. LinkedIn and Xing aims to be the "facebook" of the professional world, but I just don't really see it happening. This might actually have a shot at it though. The price is right (free!) and the services they provide are lifesavers.

OK, enough of this gushing spam-like post. Anyone have any experiences with Plaxo?

turtle777 · Mar 9, 2008, 11:08 PM

I've used it for a while, but haven't paid attention to it's recent changes.

Gotta revisit it as I'm in the process of redeveloping my "contacts access" strategy.

-t

gradient · Mar 9, 2008, 11:57 PM

Yep I agree it's a very nice, useful service. I use it to sync my Outlook address book and calendar at the office to my Mac desktop, notebook and iPhone. It is fully automatic so I don't have to even think about it anymore (sometimes I almost forget that it exists).

zro · Mar 10, 2008, 12:41 AM

I've always been a little wary of sending my contacts to some corporation I really know nothing about and have no reason to trust.

Though I do consider it from time to time.

goMac · Mar 10, 2008, 12:59 AM

CalDav ftw.

pooka · Mar 10, 2008, 01:35 AM

Yeah, I've been curious myself. Why are all these web services so anxious to get a hold of my address book?

gradient · Mar 10, 2008, 02:01 AM

Originally Posted by pooka

Yeah, I've been curious myself. Why are all these web services so anxious to get a hold of my address book?

I can't answer that but I can say that not a single person in my address book, nor myself (being in other people's address books who are also signed up for plaxo), have reported any spam or e-invasions of any kind as a result.

Not exactly scientific but..... I don't really see the harm.

- - e r i k - - · Mar 10, 2008, 03:38 AM

I was wary of Plaxo when it launched, but it seems to have developed a good reputation.

The "new" web interface (Pulse) is akin to something that I've always wanted, something that aggregates all my online life. It seems to do a fairly decent job of it too, creating a feed of all my online activities (youtube videos, facebook posts, last.fm etc. etc.).

I'm so impressed in fact I am currently routing my domain to my plaxo profile: Erik Kambestad Veland's Public Profile - Powered by Plaxo

Eriamjh · Mar 10, 2008, 07:15 AM

Sounds like a type of toothpaste.

alligator · Mar 10, 2008, 08:34 AM

or a heartburn medicine.

philm · Mar 10, 2008, 09:21 AM

So, hold on. Plaxo lets you sync a Google Calendar account with iCal? That sounds very interesting.

nonhuman · Mar 10, 2008, 10:00 AM

Unless they've just updated it, it's only a one way sync with the Google services right now. I basically use it as a way to keep my Google address book (I use hosted Google mail for work) with my Mac AddressBook so that I have access to everything from my iPhone. Since my main concern is having the info on my iPhone it works well enough, but it is a bit annoying that it doesn't go both ways.

zro · Mar 10, 2008, 10:26 AM

Wait minute... You can't sync contacts between Address Book and an iPhone? That's ridiculous. Tell me this isn't so.

nonhuman · Mar 10, 2008, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by zro

Wait minute... You can't sync contacts between Address Book and an iPhone? That's ridiculous. Tell me this isn't so.

You can. You can't, however, sync your Google Mail address book with your iPhone. That's why I use Plaxo to sync it with my Address Book.

gradient · Mar 10, 2008, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by zro

Wait minute... You can't sync contacts between Address Book and an iPhone? That's ridiculous. Tell me this isn't so.

Sorry, to clarify what I meant: I use Plaxo so sync my contact list in Outlook, at work, to Address Book on my Mac(s) at home. I then sync my iPhone the normal way which gets me up to date everywhere.

hwojtek · Mar 10, 2008, 12:39 PM

I've Plaxified my Address Book and Calendars. I am running my duties on three computers, two phones and numerous guest locations if I travel and don't want to take my laptop with me. Plaxo + google.com/ig allows me to be almost up to date with contacts and calendars. Coupled with proximity bluetooth syncing for the phones, it's brilliant for "type it once anywhere, have it stored automatically everywhere you need".

And if I would have to crawl back into Windows cave, I'd be able to have my contacts and calendars synced just as well. But that's a minor point.