I'm helping a couple in their late 40s transition from Windows 10 to Linux but they're really attached to Outlook for managing their emails, calendars, and contacts. They have about 15 years of emails and around 300 contacts stored, so it's a big deal for them to keep everything organized. They don't want to upgrade to Windows 11 or use any cloud services like Office 365 or Google. Instead, they prefer a desktop email client and are comfortable with using LibreOffice for their document needs. We're looking for advice on migrating their data to a Linux setup—specifically, is Thunderbird a good fit for their needs? What features does it offer compared to Outlook 2019, and how complicated is the migration process? What should we be careful about, and can we handle multiple email accounts effectively? Any suggestions for alternatives to Thunderbird would also be appreciated. Thanks!
3 Answers
Either Thunderbird or Evolution should meet their needs nicely! If they want a streamlined experience, I'd suggest keeping just one user account on the new Linux system. This way, their daily routine remains simple and less confusing. They should also double-check how compatible their HP printer is with Linux, as some models work better than others. Overall, they should be well-prepared for this shift!
If they're looking for something that closely resembles Outlook, you might want to check out Evolution. It's got a familiar interface for those used to earlier versions of Outlook and even has tools for importing PST files directly, which could simplify the migration process. Setup is straightforward across various Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, so that should work well for them.
Just a heads up though, while it's a great alternative, I found that it's not a perfect match for everything Outlook does, especially shared calendars. But overall, it's a reliable choice for basic email and personal info management!
What do you mean by 'not being an exact fit'? Can you elaborate?
Thunderbird is definitely a solid option for your situation! It's user-friendly and compatible with their ISP's email accounts. While it may not have all the fancy features of Outlook 2019, it's reliable for email, calendars, and contacts. Plus, it's free and open-source!
For migrating from Outlook, you'll need to export their emails and contacts from Outlook into PST files, then use a tool to convert those to MBOX format, which Thunderbird can import. Each email account can be set up within a single Thunderbird profile, but you can also create multiple profiles if that’s easier for them to manage. Just keep in mind that Thunderbird doesn't support sticky notes natively, so they might need a third-party solution for that.
Overall, I'd say it's a good fit, just consider those limitations when planning the migration!
Thanks for the detailed info! I appreciate the tips on the migration process.
Good point about the printer! I’ll verify that before making the switch.