The distinction between home and work computers is getting blurrier than ever, thanks to trends like flexible hours and telecommuting. Keeping critical business contacts and other data manually synchronized between two or more computers is a challenge under the best conditions, and it's all too easy to let things slide. A number of handy tools can do that tedious job for you and never miss an update. Wisco's SynchPst is just such a utility. It synchronizes personal folders in Microsoft Outlook, which use the .pst file format. You can select single or multiple folders or subfolders to synchronize, or update all of Outlook's items at once, even things like notes and distribution lists. It restores deleted files by copying entire folders if the selected target folder is missing. The program boasts a sophisticated algorithm that analyzes source and target folders and updates them appropriately.

SynchPst's interface is well designed and differs from other software of its type with an easy-to-use two-window view that displays the source computer in one pane and the target system in the other. Large buttons with arrows select the direction of synchronization, source to target, target to source, or two-way. You simply select which folders to sync, click the appropriate arrow, and it's a done deal. A Help file on the taskbar stands ready for further assistance if needed.

SynchPst is free to try for 21 days and costs $39.95. It works in Outlook 2000, XP, 2002, 2003, and 2007, and supports Windows 7.