Re: v4 to v5-4gl/INFORMIX SCREWS ANOTHER CUSTOMER *PLEASE READ*

I have deleted the sad details of Daniel Wynalda and his company being poorly treated by Informix during their upgrade processing, but would like to make a couple of general comments. Aren't Informix maintenance contracts normally for a year? They were back when my company was paying for support, but that has been a while. Thus the contract you signed three months ago should protect you from changes for the next nine months. If it does, then insist on the original terms for support and threaten big time lawsuits if the support for which you paid is not forthcoming. This also gives you nine months to battle with Informix to get better terms. If you get the better terms, then you are okay; meanwhile you prepare for the technically unpleasant but emotionally satisfying possibility of telling Informix to stuff it while you move to another product. If the maintenance contract you signed does not protect you from unilateral changes on the part of Informix, then shame on you and your lawyers for signing such a thing. As a separate issue, I do consider $50,000 for an "unlimited users" license for Informix on a 486 to be pretty outrageous. Clearly a single 486 can not support as many users as, for example, a Sun 690. That was why the old platform based pricing made a lot of sense. User based pricing also makes sense, but "unlimited" licenses should top out at different dollar levels for different platforms. Regards, Alan +---------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+ | R. Alan Popiel | Internet: alan@den.mmc.com | | Lockheed Martin, SLS | Voice: 303-977-9998 | | P.O. Box 179, M/S 3810 | Standard disclaimers apply. Cutesy ones, too. | | Denver, CO 80201-0179 USA | Your mileage may vary. Void where prohibited. | +---------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+