(apologies in advance if this isn’t the right community for this question)
I’ve been flirting with Linux on and off for about 15 years and I think I’m ready to make the switch mostly full-time. I use a laptop for work and have a Microsoft 365 plan with email and such. I need to replace that with something Linux-friendly and would much prefer something that works with a desktop email client. Easy syncing of email, contacts and calendar to Android is a must.
Proton seems like it might be a good option but the privacy features aren’t a huge selling point for me so I’m open to other options!
I’ve been on Linux desktop (Mint) for over a decade now. My company uses O365 for email, as did the organization before them.
I use Thunderbird with several add-ons: Mailbox Alert, Owl for Exchange (paid), Provider for Exchange ActiveSync, and TbSync. I honestly couldn’t tell you which one or ones I find most useful - it’s been so long since I’ve installed them, I don’t remember which addon provides which functionality. My most recent install was Owl, for calendaring and because things got a wee bit fucky with O365 servers for a week or two last year. I have Thunderbird set to collect addresses when I reply to users. You can have it query AD for contacts, I think, but it tends to be a wee bit slow.
On my Android phone, I use the default Google Calendar app, and the Gmail app to query O365.
The problem here is the way in which Exchange, and Microsoft, do things with what should be Interopobile. Instead there’s additions and extension only available if you’re using exchange or Microsoft products. It’s absolutely intentional to make you frustrated at what the alternatives are and how they don’t work,. Buy exchange and it’ll be fixed.