1. Quick Comparison of workspaces
SharePoint Workspace 2010
Quick Comparison of workspaces

2. Overview Availability: Stated Purpose:
Part of Office Professional 2010
Stated Purpose:
Anytime, Anywhere collaboration
3 Types of Workspaces within Product
SharePoint Workspace
Groove Workspace
Shared Folder Workspace
Mobile device support (using Office Mobile)

3. Functionality Comparison
SharePoint Workspace
Groove Workspace
Shared Folder Workspace
Online and Offline Collaboration on
SP2010 Content
Content on Client Computers
Offline access to content
Yes
Auto-sync when online
Local Search
Library Functions (check-in/out, etc.) No
Co-Authoring
Collaboration Team definition/control
Follows SP2010 Site Definition/Control
End User defined/controlled1
Facilitated by
SharePoint Server
Groove Server2
1 – Microsoft’s Public Groove server can enable collaboration with anybody (inside or outside organization) & anywhere (inside or outside corporate firewalls) with access to and internet and with SharePoint Workspace However Group policies can be implemented to manage/restrict this functionality.
2 – Organization can use hosted groove server inside the organization to facilitate (manage and govern) collaboration.

4. Use Case Scenario Comparison
SharePoint Workspace
Groove Workspace
Shared Folder Workspace
Collaboration for Professionals on the move (desktop)
Yes
Working on sub-optimal network conditions
Access via Mobile Devices
Yes1 No
Ad-hoc workspace
Collaboration with trusted partners
Require Hosted Groove Server2
Content Synchronization on multiple devices
Yes3
1 – Office Mobile required
2 – Hosted Groove Server can facilitate (govern and manage) collaboration with trusted partners
3 – Access to SP2010 required, making it device + network dependent.

5. Shared Folder Workspace
Security Comparison
Security Scenario
SharePoint Workspace
Groove Workspace
Shared Folder Workspace
Security Definition
SP2010 Site security
End user defined1
End User defined1
Content Synchronization
Require access to SP2010
Require Access to Groove Server2
Content Sync Dependency
Device/Network dependent
Device/Network Indepedent3
Offline Content Security
Tied to Device + Device login Credentials
Remote Wipe/Erase
Not Supported
IRM
Sync of documents (with IRM) supported4 but not IRM on SP libraries5
IRM on documents supported4
1 – End User acting as workspace “Manager” can control the level of access other users get. Also using Microsoft’s Public Groove server user can extend workspace invitation to anybody with access to , internet and SharePoint workspace 2010.
2 – Connection to Groove server is required. Microsoft’s Public Groove server is available for anybody with , internet and SharePoint Workspace 2010.
3 – device need local installation of SharePoint workspace 2010 product
4 – IRM implementation is client software dependent (may or may not work as intended). Not all types of content can be secured via IRM.
5 – Synchronization of SharePoint libraries with IRM (implemented via IMP) is not supported by SharePoint Workspace.