RE: Insider #75: Highlights: IBM Information On Demand 2006, TheNextInformix IDS Release...

Mark, We will continue this off-line.... 1) I have presented at IIUG/Chicago 2) I submitted to present at nationals in May 2007. I might not be migrated to DB2 by then. Winning the battle to stay with IBM products was indeed a battle, people didn't want to go to DB2 either. 3) kudo's to the IBMers involved in IIUG/Chicago for creating a warm atmosphere to encourage my involvement.... I am taking them up on it. How many of us manage Informix under purchased software packages? If said software packages don't run on Informix, it doesn't matter how great Informix is now does it? I can't stay with Informix under SAP, but I won the internal battle to stay in the IBM fold (we chose DB2). The second and very close choice was sqlserver2005, no, not oracle. It is not the qualities or failings of any particular database package that makes/breaks deals..... you tell me how I can win a vote for Informix the next time a software application is being considered (and the software app does not port to Informix)? Thanks for your thoughts. Norma Jean -----Original Message----- From: informix-list-bounces@iiug.org [mailto:informix-list-bounces@iiug.org] On Behalf Of mark.scranton@gmail.com Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 12:27 PM To: informix-list@iiug.org Subject: Re: Insider #75: Highlights: IBM Information On Demand 2006,TheNextInformix IDS Release... I remember back in the 80's...i bought the book about the Connection Machine architecture. Yes - it was way ahead of it's time. And yes (I hate to admit), I agree with DE - the technology was lost amongst the technologists...it had nothing to do with how good it was. Much like us. Some points: 1. it's not a technology battle - never has been. Has very little to do with the problem right now. If it were a technology battle, we'd all be driving Subaru's or Toyota's, not GM cars. (I come from a GM family, so I can say that without regret). 2. Don't wait on IBM with respect to Informix. Stay focused on what you can do to continue it's life. I believe we have quite a few years ahead of Informix work - not so much new clients, but within a loyal installed base. Sad, but true. 3. IDS 10.5 will bring some great features - many of you will hear about them next week at conference. Pat folks like John, Johnathon and Madison on the back for staying the course. 4. I have been very busy - almost 100% of the time - with Informix clients since joining Xtivia. And I'm not the only one - others on the staff as well. 5. One of the best contributions the tech crowds can make is to publish articles about how the Informix product helps your site, is easy to...whatever. Many will say "I don't have time..." - apparently a few of us have "enough time" to post here endlessly. Take that time and energy and route it into an article or paper from a technical point-of-view. Helps to start a buzz. (And please - no more articles that say "I was writing 4GL in 1983...."). Volunteer to help the IIUG as JGP has stated. It's time for some new blood there. I certainly would hope we have a changing of the guard to get some new inputs and fresh perspectives. I see JGP as a candidate for the next Prez, but that's just me. He still has the enthusiasm and energy needed there - and he is connected to the client base in numerous ways. This is important. Thanks - Mark Scranton Informix 1995-2006 Sebastian, Norma J. wrote: > And here I thought there was some momentum building that we could > leverage and sell fist-fight tickets at conference..... oh the > potential ! > > don't mean to be overly asinine or humorous..... I have been doing > informix stuff (4gl, db, etc) for 15 years and I love it, but I have > 20-odd years to go in IT........ I have seen the light and it's called > sqlserver2005. that'll be the bat that hits oracle with force. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: informix-list-bounces@iiug.org > [mailto:informix-list-bounces@iiug.org] On Behalf Of Double Echo > Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 8:58 AM > To: informix-list@iiug.org > Subject: Re: Insider #75: Highlights: IBM Information On Demand 2006, > TheNextInformix IDS Release... > > Jean Georges Perrin wrote: > > I am lost! How can you compare Informix, a database technology, with > > artificial intelligence? > > > > I had actually been lulled into thinking that you were capable of > thinking outside the Informix box. But I see that I am indeed wrong. > On this I am sure. > > Thinking Machines ( the company ) was carved up and split off between > Sun and Oracle. God only knows what they did with the parts, but the > point, obviously lost on you, was that this was great technology that > simply did not make it in its present form. > > > Informix, great technology, but for whatever reason will not make it--at > least in its present form. The Connection Machines developed by > Thinking Machines where way ahead of their time, just like Informix. > > DB2 is now enjoying the fruits of Informix labor, and Informix to some > degree is enjoying some of the technology from DB2, such as better > buffer pool management. But IBM knows they can get most of their sales > from 20% of the Informix base, thusly this is why they don't give a rats > ass about marketing it. As it dies a slow and tragic death, IBM will > simply continue to offer DB2 like a robot offering tea. > > > > The path of your thinking is really strange to me. > > > It's early for you. When you get 5-10 years away from actually using > Informix it will become easier for you. This will soon be possible when > Informix slides off into the abyss. > > > Your mail is the same kind of usual rambling, then you divert on AI. > This is > > how you want to convince than Informix is anemic? Come on! You can > surely do > > better than that! > > > > I appreciate your challenge. Like you I persist here in c.d.i, for > apparently no other reason than the pointless, hopeless hope that there > is a twinkle of intelligence at IBM that is reading here, and will wake > up and Informix will start to be marketed and really advertised. In my > misguided zeal, I somehow think that somebody will resurrect this > product and really make it fly. But deep down inside I know it's a lost > cause. Probably the same kind of problem people have with quitting > smoking, it's difficult. > > > > > > > > Or go comp.lang.prolog... > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: informix-list-bounces@iiug.org [mailto:informix-list- > >> bounces@iiug.org] On Behalf Of Double Echo > >> Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 07:45 > >> To: informix-list@iiug.org > >> Subject: Re: Insider #75: Highlights: IBM Information On Demand 2006, > >> TheNext Informix IDS Release... > >> > >> The big question is, what does the conference really buy you in the > >> market? > >> > >> Just because Walmart and a few other companies are keeping the > Informix > >> lights > >> on doesn't mean the product has a real future. If you can't build a > >> devel