Welcome to PPCGeeks. I'm guessing that you have tried using "Windows Mobile Device Center" that is obtained by running windows update? Are you trying to use the calendar and contacts that's built into Vista? I haven't tried syncing to those apps. Some users are using "My Phone" from Microsoft and syncing there content with it. Its free and seems to work pretty good.
http://sn1-p2.myphone.microsoft.com/mkweb/Start.po