Open source migration

To get me on the way towards Linux, I've decided to start using more open source software and see if I can head away from my dependency on Microsoft.

Nearly a year ago I switched to Firefox for my browsing. Finally there was an alternative to IE which would still work with most websites. I've never looked back from that decision and IE7 has held no appeal for me.

I've mentioned in a previous post that I run my mobile TV website under Apache. The flexibility Apache gives me over IIS is not insignificant. It's also very important that I can run ASP.NET under that too, because with all the will in the world, I'm not going to switch to PHP etc when I use .NET all the time at work. I have time for technology, but not that much time ;-)


The next step was to move away from Outlook. This is hard, because it works, and it works well for me. I can also easily synchronise my mobile with it via bluetooth.

I recently heard that Thunderbird 2.0 was out, and having not been that impressed with V1.5, I wasn't that sure about it. Fortunately it's moved on a lot and now definitely could replace Outlook Express with no question. It being cross platform also bodes well for the Linux move later.

Mozilla also have Sunbird which is a calendar program. I don't need anything too flashy for my scheduling, but it needs to do the basics and allow me to synchronise my phone. The Lightning addon for Thunderbird also allows me to get an "outlook feel" by integrating the two into one application.

A website (which is currently free) called Schedule World provides the crucial link between Thunderbird/Lightning and my mobile. This site works much like Google calendar, providing a web UI on your schedule, but also has a SyncML interface which is required by my phone to synchronise itself with it. Tie that together with an addon for Thunderbird to sync it with ScheduleWorld, and I have all my requirements met.

I've been using this combination for a few weeks and it seems to work for me. Lightning is a bit shaky in comparison with Sunbird, but it works ok. I've set up a WebDAV site under Apache to allow me to store the calendar centrally on my network, but be accessed from any machine. Once again, Apache has come to the rescue here!

Similarly, my mail accounts and profile under Thunderbird also sit on the network for the same purpose. With them stored on a network share, the start up time is slowed a little, but being able to access them from any machine on the network is an important feature for me.

I did have some problems with timezones when getting Lightning/ScheduleWorld and my mobile working, but eventually I managed to turn off all that functionality and get it to work. The reality is, I don't have entries coming into my calendar from multiple timezones so 10am is 10am is 10am wherever I am.