from M$ Outlook to Open source...

sneakyimp

I have a lot of phone numbers and email in MS outlook on this machine. I want to switch to OpenOffice or Thunderbird or some other open source mail program. I have a few calendar dates...can probably do that by hand. Ah, F*** the calendar dates.

I just want to port my email and contacts. Anybody know of
a) a good open source mail/calendar program...evolution maybe?
b) a conversion utility to get from PST format to MBOX or some other better open format (please recommend).

goldbug

Thunderbird would get definitely get my vote, unless you need Exchange synchronization, then go with Evolution. Going from PST to mbox is definitely a pain at times. Unfortunately, AFAIK Outlook can't export mbox, and last time I looked, there wasn't a good free utility to go pst->mbox without mangling data. You can however import into somehting like Eudora, then poop out mbox (or so I've heard rumors). Someone please correct me if I'm mistaken.

bpat1434

I also second Thunderbird. I've actually replaced my Outlook with Thunderbird. Fortunately I use gMail and an IMAP server, so my mail was never an issue. But Thunderbird can import from M$, so I guess once you import it, you can just do a backup of it (google "MozBackup Utility") and be on your merry way.

I switched to thunderbird within the last few months, and just love it. Can't get away from it. Easier to use, and best of all: Free. 🙂

sneakyimp

yes free is the operative word here. my system (running windows 98 since 2001) is slowly grinding to a halt due to all the sdk's, games, and audio recording software i've installed and uninstalled over the years. my registry is a nightmare

so i have to wipe the machine.

i personally can't afford $250 for an upgrade--IF i can get an upgrade.
[EDIT] i mean an upgrade to xp AND office.

hell, if Flash 8 ran on knoppix, that's where i'd be headed.

So I guess I'm on a quest for a conversion utility. I'll D/L thunderbird and check it out.

thx!

sneakyimp

Thunderbird TOTALLY rocks. It reads PST files no problemo.

goldbug

Excellent, good to see that things have gotten easier for the alternative-seekers 😃

sneakyimp

actually, not everything went smoothly. some email attachments didn't come thru. any files (like DOC, JPG, XLS) seem fine but when the attachment was another email, some things got lost.

i like thunderbird pretty much though.

maddog720

Thunderbird is supposed to be good.

Weedpacket

What do you mean "supposed" to be? 😃 I switched fulltime from Mozilla Suite (now Seamonkey) to TB as soon as the latter hit 1.0. No regrets.