Re: database evaluation reports

When our company evaluated various leading databases, we compiled a great deal of data to make our final choice. Unfortunately, I cannot release our checklist (proprietary information) but one source I can recommend (most heartily) is DataPro. DataPro is a McGraw-Hill company that publishes technical specifications on about anything to do with computers that you can think of. Our information relates strictly to RDBMS systems and was priced about $500.00. I believe you can get samples in advance. The format of the report for Oracle is typical, and it breaks into the following sections: Supported machines/OS Installed Base (number of licenses, with breakout of workstations) Strengths/Limitations Major Competitor Contact information Typical Pricing Product Analysis Target Applications Strengths Limitations Competitive Analysis (who the major competition is, what they do better and why) Vendor Analysis Marketing Strategy Decision Points grid Market Analysis Target Markets Mergers/Acquisitions Market Position Relationships to other markets Sales and Distribution strategy Support Pricing and Programs Warrantees Support Services ISV / VAR information User Opinion polls And then several pages of technical specs: Enhancements Base System Components User Interface Components General Interface Components Language Support Recovery Features Performance Monitoring Distributed Processing Data Bridges Communications Facilities Security Features Reporting / Output features Product Options (the extras) Operating Requirements Hardware Memory Requirements Software Its all there at your fingertips, and it sure helps you in a decision making process. What our company decided was that the technical issues were pretty much a draw, so we went with market position. The nicest thing about the reports is that you don't miss anything major when you are doing your analysis. My only relation with DataPro is as a customer (just in case I sound like a salesman :) Anyways, heres the DataPro addresses and phone numbers: DataPro Main Number: 1-800-328-2776 DataPro Information Services Group 600 Delran Parkway Delran, New Jersey 08075 -Pat Ryan LIAS Senior Programmer/Analyst My views do not necessarily represent those of my company; nor indeed of any other sentient being.