Re: [Evolution] CalDAV - any successes out there

[Robin Laing <Robin Laing drdc-rddc gc ca>]

Pete Biggs wrote:
> > Something that can be made to work with the Exchange instead of going 
> > through the Outlook Web Access which basically makes working with 
> > Exchange a total PITA.  This is a productivity killer.
> >  
>
> I know nothing about Exchange, but I was under the impression that the only
> way a non-Windows client can get access to Exchange was via OWA.  There
> is nothing that Evo can do about that - it's because MS doesn't publish the
> interface "standard".  After all, that was why Brutus was created - but 
> then
> people grouch that it has to run on a windows box!

I know that but they don't publish the document standard for Word 
documents and OpenOffice has done a pretty good job of reverse 
engineering that.  On this note I see that the Openchange has what they 
say is a working MAPI library available.  This could be good news for 
both Linux and Evolution.

As for Brutus, it may be time to look at porting to Linux using some 
type of wrapping similar to what mplayer can do.  But if the Openchange 
MAPI does work, this will fix many of the issues.

> > This has totally turned most of the Linux users here off Evolution.
> >  
>
> It seems the wrong way - why should it put Linux users off Evolution - I 
> would
> have though it would have put the Evolution users off Exchange!  What do
> they use instead of Evo to talk to Exchange?

I will give you this one but we never had to use Exchange until 
November.  I personally hated Outlook and the Outlook UI when I first 
tried it years ago.  Now I am trying it again in Evolution.  Most of the 
Linux and Windows users that I have talked to don't like the Outlook UI 
or the cloning of it in Evolution.  As well as the slow, slow, slow, 
slow access to mail for the OWA.  There are also other features that are 
missing from Evolution that make it problematic.  But that is not part 
of this conversation.

I also guess that part of the issue is people are forced to Evolution 
from their preferred mail clients that it is taking the brunt of the 
blame.  Again, the issue is Microsoft, Evolution connector, Exchange and 
the policy put in place by management.

> Also, why don't you grouch at the Exchange developers about their lack of
> interoperability with other MUAs?

Actually Exchange if configured correctly isn't that big of a problem 
for other MUAs, the issue is what is allowed.  Our problem isn't the 
Exchange developers on this one but the Corp heads that won't allow pop 
or imap access to Exchange.  Again, this is probably a reason why 
Evolution gets the blame over Exchange.  Evolution is touted as an 
Outlook replacement in some circles.  In our case, it is the only 
option.  Blame the interface, not the back end.

I find that the Evolution UI is to much like Outlooks which I don't 
like.  There are problems that I have found that affect my productivity 
and how I work.  I find it easier and faster to export my mail to 
Thunderbird and use it.  Just the method of moving someone from To: to 
Cc: is problematic in Evolution.

But this is the Linux way of life.  Find the best tools for the job but 
due to Corporate decisions, we are very limited.

> P.

As my signature file states, I don't rely on mail anymore.  If it is 
important, phone.  Due to the slowness, I am lucky if I read my mail 
twice a week now.

I was under the impression that I was running an older version as I keep 
hearing about a newer version.  I see that our version number is 
actually above the Evolution latest stable download.  I guess it would 
be worth submitting what I think are bugs.

FWIW, the first week I used Evolution, I was accused of bringing down 
the OWA server.  But this is a UI issue that I will have to submit a bug 
report on.

--
Due to the move to M$ Exchange Server,
   anything that is a priority, please phone.
Robin Laing