connect directly to Exchange (2003)

[Lasse Riis]

Hi

At my new job I need to access the Exchange server for retrieval of not 
only mail, but also task-lists (of other users as well). (Cal. and so 
forth is not important to me)

However GNU/Linux is not the best env for MS Outlook to run in :)

So the first thing I tried was Evolution, as this seems to be the 
designated Outlookkiller of FOSS (I never understood why though). But 
alas, it seems Evolution accesses Exchange using the web-interface and 
then parses the HTML(this sounds insane, but may be the only way to do 
it?). However, this particular exchange server is not set up to serve a 
webinterface so it's not really an option using evolution.

So what I need is an actual exchange-client that'll communicate with the 
exchange server, and from its point of view appear to be nothing other 
than MS Outlook. Obvioulsy Evolution is not the choice(?), so I was 
wondering if I can mess around with some kolab-software (or maybe just 
kontact) and get what I want. Or maybe you know of a completely other 
option?

Lasse Riis