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Is there a lightweight desktop application to connect to an Exchange server to just get mail? Ideally, the app would be free.
I am looking to replace Outlook for something that loads quicker and takes up less memory, etc.
Richard Morgan
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 365
3
I think you can use just about any mail clients to connect to Exchange and utilize POP3 or IMAP, but I don't know if you would get the full array of Exchange features.
TheTXI
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 3 551
5
Exchange provides IMAP access to a nice client, Mozilla Thunderbird. It even has a calendar plugin, lightning (not directly usable with exchange).
gimel
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 379
1I've tried Thunderbird before, but our company mailserver seems to use some evil Microsoft-specific protocol for doing something that Thunderbird can't seem to handle. – Jason S – 2009-07-17T13:51:53.320
3You can enable IMAP and SMTP on exchange - convincing the administration is a social task. – gimel – 2009-07-17T14:08:40.837
@Jason S: Evolution can do appointment/calendar handling with exchange, even over a standard IMAP connection, if that's what you're after. There's a separate Exchange connection method which takes an OWA URL; I haven't managed to get that working yet though.
The Microsoft-specific protocol you're talking about is MAPI, as far as I know. Evolution has a separate, newer MAPI plugin for exchange, too. That crashed badly for me, but it's still experimental, so give it some time. – Lee B – 2009-10-27T21:12:18.807
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You can connect to Exchange using POP and IMAP, so therefore you can use any mail client. I use Apple Mail on my Mac personally and still use Outlook on Windows, but I also use Thunderbird on occasion.
If you want something completely free and have access to Exchange from the outside you can also use Outlook Web Access.
BinaryMisfit
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 19 955
POP and IMAP have to be enabled by your system administrator, and I've worked at more than 1 company where they are both disabled. Outlook uses something different to connect, and sometimes that is the only thing allowed. :( – Jon Tackabury – 2009-07-17T14:02:18.380
@Jon Agreed. However it can be done and with good motivation some administrators will allow it. – BinaryMisfit – 2009-07-17T14:17:49.767
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Evolution (for GNOME) works very well with Exchange.
sblair
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 12 231
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You could go for Gmail and POP into your Exchange server. ;)
TravisPUK
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 223
1Now that would be excellent! I can't stand Outlook! – Steve Melnikoff – 2009-07-17T18:07:03.257
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I don't know the memory usage of this, but Zimbra Desktop
If your Exchange server has OWA/Webmail access, you can use the OWA plugin.
Jay Atkinson
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 535
1
Just use the web access on the Exchange server.
Mike Wills
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 918
If it makes you feel any better, I used to work for a company that used OWA 2003 exclusively. Everyone. Not kidding. – rodey – 2010-02-03T20:57:01.650
OWA, in Exchange 2003 at least, is pretty horrible for anyone who really needs to manage their email folders, read state, search old emails, etc. – Lee B – 2009-10-27T21:13:22.313
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This looks promising: http://www.emclient.com/, according to the website, it has calendar and contacts support.
Pawel Furmaniak
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 271
0
There is a port of Evolution for Windows.
Justin Dearing
Posted 2009-07-17T12:45:17.850
Reputation: 2 704
1Ugh - have you actually used it - very buggy. – Linker3000 – 2011-05-04T21:47:32.787
No. That explains why it has not been updated. – Justin Dearing – 2011-05-04T22:04:11.290
@Daniel By default exchange only does its native MAPI, but it will certainly do both POP3 and IMAP, but you admin has to configure it. – prestomation – 2009-09-18T12:16:52.487
1Exchange only has IMAP and it has to be turned on. – Daniel A. White – 2009-07-17T13:06:43.977
1@Daniel Since When? I have used Exchange for years both for POP3 and IMAP? We are even using it at work in testing on the Exchange 2010 Beta's? – BinaryMisfit – 2009-07-17T13:08:27.113