Re: Informix vs. Oracle wuz: Re: Informix?

At 03:11 PM 10/31/97 +0000, you wrote: }Jack Parker wrote: } }> Informix came from the Unix world. At the time of Oracles ascendancy }> mainframes were the thing, they've been able to branch out from that }> position. We're still hooked to Unix - although now that there is a 'new' }> OS that is growing in use, and that we have the best SQL engine for, we }> stand a fairer shot at that market. } }Sigh. }Jack, This discussion isn't about technologies, but about the }marketing and sales efforts surrounding each company. } Plus grand soupir. Definitely not the only reason - just an addition. 10 years ago, h*ll 8 years ago for that matter. Unix was not in wide use outside of the federal government, universities and small businesses. (Ok joe, ted and carol - yes your company has been using it since 1943). How long ago was it that the IBM fellow came out and said that IBM had really been doing Unix since day one (intimating that K&R found a tape in an IBM dumpster - and have you ever tried running IBM's PC Unix? I seem to remember that you get a whole 4k left over after the OS has loaded.) and that they were going to get serious now? I seem to remember that as being 88 or 89. How long ago did HP decide to switch to Unix? Not much longer ago. If you look back to that era, what was THE database on Unix? I seem to remember reading the top Unix software packages list at that time - Informix won it by a landslide, Oracle wasn't even mentioned. Who were the primary users? Small businesses and the Feds. Meantime what were all of the other folks out there doing when they wanted an SQL database? Can you say Oracle? At the time Informix had a Unix product and -shudder- a Doze product, even a little VMS thingy. but that's it. Oracle ran on just about every OS there was. Do you remember how many operating systems there were back then? I seem to remember having 5 or 6 in my back pocket - none of which (except for Unix) are alive today. Now about all of these businesses which have now adopted Unix. What did they used to use? Now why on earth would you think that this had no bearing on market share? }True, Oracle hist MVS,VMS, and UNIX. But they compete against }Informix on the UNIX platform. Why is it that they are sucessful }with a marginally inferior product? } }That is the question. } }-- }#include <std_disclaimer.h> /* Mike Segel (MS385) */ }#include <No_Spam.h> }#ifdef OFFENDED_BY_CONTENT }The author takes no responsibility for this post. }Any resemblence to a coherent rational thought is purely coincidence. }-The Management. }#endif }***************************** }Due to AGIS's Refusal to Act Responsibly }We are blocking all of their domains at the packet level. }This block will exist until AGIS modifies their policies to }conform to existing RFCs and net community standards. } }We encourage all ISPs and domain holders to do the same. }***************************** } }