Windows Mobile 8 & Syncronisation

[TimTDP]

I have been eagerly waiting for Windows 8 & Windows Mobile 8. I have read great reviews about them, but my real interest in them is that I can then use one eco-system for my laptop, tablet and phone. One aspect that is important to me is the need to sync my email, contacts and tasks. (I have a Gmail account and use Outlook as my email client.)

Apparently Microsoft is not supporting this unless I am using Exchange, which I am not. To me this is very irritating and blows a huge hole in the concept for one eco-system!

Am I correct in my assessment of synchronization?
If I am, what is the best solution? My email account is configured to use IMAP and I do need to be able to access emails offline, which is why I use Outlook.

 

[RetroPedro]

Don't know if I understand your situation correctly, but you can add your Gmail account to both the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 (Not Windows mobile, you'll get flamed ;0) mail apps. In this way it will be available on all your devices. Are you referring to contacts also?

 

[Vegeta]

Gmail contacts sync fine in Windows 8
Only problem is the "messenger" client doesn't support gtalk

 

[CataclysmZA]

Syncing with your Gmail account, calendar and contacts is done automatically once you enter the details into the settings page of the Mail app, but to sync those same settings across several devices you need to use a Windows Live linked account to log in with. The Mail app that comes by default with Windows 8 also uses IMAP by default so its pretty versatile off the bat. Offline access to your mail isn't possible, which is where Office Outlook excels (Thunderbird as well). Outlook 2013 also uses the sync feature in Windows 8 to carry over settings, so if you have it on all your systems then you're good to go.

Also, if you have a desktop and a tablet and use the same Live login, your wallpaper, apps, settings and desktop background are synced on your first log in.