Re: News Flash! Informix FREE! on NT!!!!

David Kosenko wrote: > Also sprach Mike Segel <mikey@segel.NOSPAM-.KING.OF.MYDOMAIN.-NOSPAM.com> : > :Seriously the idea is that if you are a registered developer, you can > :pick it up from > :their IDN site. (Distribution hasn't been thought out yet. So don't look > :for it > :any time real soon.) The concept is that you are giving away a tool to > :developers > :so that they can create products using your product with as little cost > :to themselves. > > It's even better than that, assuming you are a VAR or SI. You get the > development engine licenses for free, and the first 50 deployment licenses (i.e. > runtime) are also free. This means you can develop and deploy apps against IDS > on NT for up to 50 users and incur no cost for the db s/w. That means either > you can charge customers less for your product, or pocket the difference > yourself. Maintenance is also pretty cheap: $5000 for full IDS, $1500 for WGS > (if memory serves). Plus the first 60 days of support is free. > Uhmm,Thats the *first* 50 run time licenses. Its a one time deal. Pending on your completing an application. At least this is what was explained to me. > However, I believe there may be a few catches, from various angles. First, > there was no mention that I was aware of development tools. A db server all by > itself is not very useful. Sounds to me like it will still cost you for the SDK > to get development moving. Still, it is a substantial decrease in costs, and a > net win for the VARs and SIs. > Well, lets be real for a second.Informix doesn't really produce any *real* app tools. (Ducks and shouts, "OK, besides 4GL ;-)" ) The idea being that one would use his/HER development tool of choice. Symatec (Spammers), Microsloth (The evil ones), Sun's native Java , Netscape, etc ... ,.... [Insert your favorite tool here] and of course Apple/NeXT's Web Objects (My personal favorite) > Second, it could mean trouble for Informix revenues, at least in the short term. > Think about it: if you can run IDS on NT for free, vs. spending serious bucks to > run it on Unix, isn't there going to be a big temptation on the parts of some > shops to make the switch just to save the $$? Maybe not, if you don't trust MS > stuff. I do know at least a couple of the Informix sales reps are worried that > this will cut into their sales. Furthermore, who makes the call as to who is a > developer? If it simply means registering on a web site before the download, > then any smoe could grab themselves a copy for their own use. Not bad for the > individual, but not doing much to increase Informix's market share in the big > picture. > I would have to disagree.The concept would lower your development costs, by giving you a client/server development capability with a local copy of Informix. That way when you develop, you have the engine and the app local. You can then test everything and then migrate your engine to Unix/Linux [Yes, I had to throw that one in there.] For better performance. The *free* copy is *ONLY* for development and not distribution. Thats an important thing to remember. If I write a POS system for my sister's store, then I can develop it for free, but then I would have to buy a run time license for her store. (Unless I want to resell the software then I can use one of the 50 runtime licenses for free.) [And no Kent, I don't want to get in to the retail sales industry... ;-) ] > > > But then, what do I know? > > Dave > Hey That's my line! :-) Seriously, I do agree with a lot of what Dave is saying. But lets look back at the 80/20 rule. 80% of your customers use only 20% of your product. By limiting the freebie to the core 20% of what Informix can do, (IDS vs UDO or whatever they are calling it these days.), you can expand your market share without really impacting sales. Those clients who want UDO, can purchase it. However for the developers, the core of their package can be built and tested without great expense. Thats the whole idea. Looks like that vacation Diane took may have done her some good. The only downside is that no one knows much about the IDN (Informix's Developers Network.) This was hatched what about a year ago? Originally it was supposed to be a pay to play scheme. Looks like that changed. Time will tell. -Mikey