Outlook from desktop and from wireless laptop

[GregL]

I use MS Outlook on my desktop, but I'd also like to use it sometimes from my laptop in another part of the house. The laptop is connected by wireless network.



Can I do that without ending up with two email files each with different email messages?

What if I've left Outlook running on the desktop, and then start Outlook on the laptop? If they're both using the same email file, would that cause problems?

What about different versions of Outlook -- the desktop still has 2007, but the laptop has 2010. Would that cause problems?


Thanks,

Greg

[Kaneto]

Sharing a .PST file between two Outlook programs is generally not recommended, as they're really not meant to be shared. If you only have a POP connection, you'll probably be better setting your Outlook to leave messages on server (you should have it delete the messages after a certain number of days though). This will allow you to retrieve your incoming mail with both computers. The only thing about this setup is your Sent mail wont sync up, so you wont be able to see a message that you sent from the desktop on the laptop, and vice versa.

If your email provider supports IMAP, you may want to consider going this route instead. With an IMAP connection, your mail is essentially stored on the server and both computers will sync the mail folders with that server copy. This allows you to sync other mail folders beyond just the inbox.

If you do decide to try sharing your .PST file over the network, you'll only be able to use it on one computer at a time. In other words, to connect to the mailbox on your Laptop, you'll need to make sure that you've closed Outlook on the desktop first.

The .PST file format is essentially the same between 2007 and 2010, so you shouldn't have any problems there.

Hope this helps.

-SW