Can't get evaluation version of Informix - THIS IS CRAP AND OUT OF ORDER

I want to get evaluation copies of Informix (IDS and 4GL) for my own use. Looking all over IBM's Informix site I cannot find someone to contact. I have heard "IBM lawyers have decided that no software will be released unless it contains a 30- or 90-day bomb. Informix products do not have, and they are not going to reverse-engineer such bombs into the code, so Informix products will not be available for download until new versions with the bomb become available. The products were removed from the download site a couple of weeks ago." and "What do you need them for? If it's a client site for whom we can become the apprroved IBM Business Partner/Reseller, we can supply them to you. Otherwise not (our distributor would not permit us to release them). " What the f**k? I can download all the database server products from Oracle using download from the front page, I can get eval copies of MS SQL Server...why can't I get copies of Informix? Also from IBM I have Rational Purify evaluation copy and I can get loads of DB2 so why can't I get Informix?? Can the IIUG, Informix UK User Group + UK Informix resellers give IBM a big slap from me? This is crap!! Pissed off, David.

"David Williams" <djw@smooth1.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message news:c49upb$2dd$1@news5.svr.pol.co.uk... > > I want to get evaluation copies of Informix (IDS and 4GL) for my own use. > > Looking all over IBM's Informix site I cannot find someone to contact. > > I have heard > > "IBM lawyers have decided that no software will be released unless it > contains a 30- or 90-day bomb. > Informix products do not have, and they are not going to reverse-engineer > such bombs into the code, so > Informix products will not be available for download until new versions with > the bomb become available. > The products were removed from the download site a couple of weeks ago." It's true, I believe. Again, like the fuss a week or two back concerning support for UK customers, IBM does not appear to have tried to publicise or explain its decision. Maybe someone from IBM can confirm the details here? > "What do you need them for? If it's a client site for whom we can become > the apprroved IBM Business > Partner/Reseller, we can supply them to you. Otherwise not (our distributor > would not permit us to release them). " On the IBM webiste at http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/informix/downloads.html it now says "The products listed below [includes all the Informix server and tool products] are available only through your IBM sales representative or Business Partner who will set up a product evaluation period". I have read elsewhere that only IBM Sales Reps or IBM Partner Managers can authorise or procure evalutaions. I do not know which version is true. It certainly *is* true that a business partner is sure to be asked by his distributor the name of the potential or existing customer. Presumably an IBM sales rep will also have the same reservations in supplying evals to non-customers. > > What the f**k? I can download all the database server products from Oracle > using download > from the front page, I can get eval copies of MS SQL Server...why can't I > get copies of Informix? Also from IBM I have Rational Purify evaluation copy and I can get loads of > DB2 so why can't I get Informix?? Presumably Rational and DB2 software contains the bomb. > Can the IIUG, Informix UK User Group + UK Informix resellers give IBM a big > slap from me? As a member of all three classes: the IIUG is and will lobby for members' interests, but seems likely itself to lose the downloads from its own site (but they are still there as I write). The UK IUG and UK Business Partners are highly unlikely to be able to sway a worldwide corporate decision. As mentioned above, it is a disappointment that IBM fails to announce such decisions but simply leaves people to find out the hard way. There is a reasonable explanation there but the Powers That Be sometime seem unwilling to engage with the user community.

"David Williams" <djw@smooth1.fsnet.co.uk> writes: > Pissed off, You could always join the IIUG. (Unless you, on principle, wouldn't join any group that would have you for a member) ;) -- Forte International, P.O. Box 1412, Ridgecrest, CA 93556-1412 Ronald Cole <ronald@forte-intl.com> Phone: (760) 499-9142 President, CEO Fax: (760) 499-9152 My GPG fingerprint: C3AF 4BE9 BEA6 F1C2 B084 4A88 8851 E6C8 69E3 B00B

Dude, you're getting the good stuff aren't you, but I'm guessing you ran out. ( The rambling is a dead giveaway ) Did you know you can get prescription quality now on the net without a prescription? It's not cheap but uh anyway fagetaboutit--get the Rain Man tape or dvd and lay off the porn for awhile till you can get your refills. "David Williams" <djw@smooth1.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message news:c49upb$2dd$1@news5.svr.pol.co.uk... > > I want to get evaluation copies of Informix (IDS and 4GL) for my own use. > > Looking all over IBM's Informix site I cannot find someone to contact. > > I have heard > > "IBM lawyers have decided that no software will be released unless it > contains a 30- or 90-day bomb. > Informix products do not have, and they are not going to reverse-engineer > such bombs into the code, so > Informix products will not be available for download until new versions with > the bomb become available. > The products were removed from the download site a couple of weeks ago." > > and > > "What do you need them for? If it's a client site for whom we can become > the apprroved IBM Business > Partner/Reseller, we can supply them to you. Otherwise not (our distributor > would not permit us to release them). " > > What the f**k? I can download all the database server products from Oracle > using download > from the front page, I can get eval copies of MS SQL Server...why can't I > get copies of Informix? > > Also from IBM I have Rational Purify evaluation copy and I can get loads of > DB2 so why can't I get Informix?? > > Can the IIUG, Informix UK User Group + UK Informix resellers give IBM a big > slap from me? > > This is crap!! > > > Pissed off, > > David. > >

"Ronald Cole" <ronald@forte-intl.com> wrote in message news:m3wu53wccf.fsf@yakisoba.forte-intl.com... > "David Williams" <djw@smooth1.fsnet.co.uk> writes: > > Pissed off, > > You could always join the IIUG. (Unless you, on principle, wouldn't > join any group that would have you for a member) > > ;) > I am already a member...:-<< > -- > Forte International, P.O. Box 1412, Ridgecrest, CA 93556-1412 > Ronald Cole <ronald@forte-intl.com> Phone: (760) 499-9142 > President, CEO Fax: (760) 499-9152 > My GPG fingerprint: C3AF 4BE9 BEA6 F1C2 B084 4A88 8851 E6C8 69E3 B00B