What is it with PocketMac be it the actual software or their customer support.

I've been using a very old version of PocketMac with my old PowerBook G4 (OSX 10.3.9) to sync to an older version of Entourage (pre-Office 2008). Fine for then, except for the creepy PocketMac Lauren emails.

Then both my 7730 and my Powerbook both gave out (scratch BBRepairshop.com - couldn't change a keyboard even with their "senior" tech). So, shoot, I'm waiting for the (hold thumbs) June 2008 newer version of the iPhone but still need a BB until then. So, I pick up a T-Mo 8700 and, what they hey, splurge on a new MacBook (OSX 10.5) and the new Office (2008).

Well. PocketMac doesn't work with Entourage in 2008?!? What's up with that. The new software has only been about a year in the pipeline and been out for months. Yet, the best PocketMac's so-called "help" pages can tell me that - as of January 2008 - PocketMac doesn't work with Office 2008 (Entourage) but (in the cheery smack that Lauren voice) we're working on it and it should be available in a couple of months. You can't tell me that Microsoft so radically changed the underlying file structure of Entourage that PocketMac needs a complete re-write (indeed, the switch of my "old" Entourage database into Entourage in Office 2008 took less time than to type so far). Come on!

OK, so, I look for a workaround. Let's try this - sync my new Entourage database to Apple's Address Book and iCal. Works (gee two corporate behemoths can work that out but a small nimble software house dedicated to the "lost" Apple folks with BBs can't - go figure). Then, I'm going to have to sync Apple's Address Book and iCal with the 8700 via PocketMac. Should be simple.

Nope.

Two connections and attempted syncs later. I've got less than 1/2 of my Apple Address Book entries in my Blackberry and NO iCal events.

Sync starts, Blackberry indicates connected to computer.

Sync goes and goes and goes - the second of the two, I waited 30 minutes - we're talking about 750 contacts. I can't take THAT long.

Check the log and lo and behold, PocketMac has hung up with the following message
"Checking for mounted blackberry media cards."

In case you're wondering, no I do NOT have any "added" software, photos or anything else I'm trying to add to the BB. Just AddressBook, iCal and Stickies.

Pocketmac. Just sits and sits and sits.

So, shouldn't this be something covered in PocketMac's help? No, why should it. Nothing even cheery from Lauren. Email to PocketMac for help. No response (3 1/2 business days).

Perhaps PocketMac has some cut on the media card market. Perhaps they're just into the 1/2 a loaf is better than none theory - give me half of my contacts and not the rest. Go figure.

Anyone have a fix for this?

And, by the way for those who have been vainly searching for the Apple Address Book field to put a colleague's BB Pin into to have it sync, do the following. In Apple Address Book, create a custom telephone number field and call it PIN. That's it.

Gotta go print out my Address Book and calendar. Where's that "Blackberry is Better than an iPhone" writer?