Questions before purchasing Informix

I am considering purchasing Informix's IDS rather than Oracle's 8. I have heard that 1) Informix was faster than Oracle but much harder to maintain. 2) Harder to get support for Informix. People don't want to mess with it. 3) Stored procedures have to be done one line at a time with Informix....very time consuming. I am please with the speed but the last thing that we need right now is server/software taking up our time to maintain. Can anyone address the validity of these statements? Thanks, Chris

Chris Moehring wrote: > > I am considering purchasing Informix's IDS rather than Oracle's 8. > > I have heard that > 1) Informix was faster than Oracle but much harder to maintain. I don't have benchmarks. I don't know Oracle .... > 2) Harder to get support for Informix. People don't want to mess with > it. I like to mess with it. There are probably others. Informix does sell support ... > 3) Stored procedures have to be done one line at a time with > Informix....very > time consuming. > I ususally do all DDL with the editor of choice and then run the script via dbaccess or sqlcmd (available from www.iuug.org). For informix stored procedure you might want to check "Informix stored procedure programming" from Michael L.Gonzales. > I am please with the speed but the last thing that we need right now is > server/software taking up our time to maintain. Avoid NT on the server. > > Can anyone address the validity of these statements? > > Thanks, > Chris Hope that helps Peter -- ------ Hiermit widerspreche ich der Nutzung oder Uebermittlung meiner Daten fuer Werbezwecke oder fuer die Markt- oder Meinungsforschung gemaess Par. 28 Abs. 3 Bundesdatenschutzgesetz.

1) Informix is not hard to maintain at all! I have been working with Informix technology (also worked with Oracle-very little, Sybase, and SQL Server) for six plus years. I have not met one developer/DBA yet who does not love the technology, robustness, and ease of use of the products - engines in particular. 2) Very easy to get a live person on the other end of the phone line for technical support (most of the time right away, when they are really busy, within a few hours). I have always gotten excellent support from Informix with one or two exceptions - all exceptions were in the tools area. This is in a six plus year period and I am not very shy in calling tech support!! I guess this is not a neutral community here, but I would be surprised if you get any reply or input from any reasonably competent technical person who worked with Informix telling you to go Oracle...!!! Good luck. Hal Chris Moehring wrote in message <37B4244D.F7F9BDB4@txucom.com>... >I am considering purchasing Informix's IDS rather than Oracle's 8. > >I have heard that >1) Informix was faster than Oracle but much harder to maintain. >2) Harder to get support for Informix. People don't want to mess with >it. >3) Stored procedures have to be done one line at a time with >Informix....very >time consuming. > >I am please with the speed but the last thing that we need right now is >server/software taking up our time to maintain. > >Can anyone address the validity of these statements? > >Thanks, >Chris >

Also worth mentioning here is the "911" feature of technical support where you get top priority if you have a "down" server. Hal Maner wrote in message <7p1klm$4ot1@www.informix.com>... >1) Informix is not hard to maintain at all! I have been working with >Informix technology (also worked with Oracle-very little, Sybase, and SQL >Server) for six plus years. I have not met one developer/DBA yet who does >not love the technology, robustness, and ease of use of the products - >engines in particular. > >2) Very easy to get a live person on the other end of the phone line for >technical support (most of the time right away, when they are really busy, >within a few hours). I have always gotten excellent support from Informix >with one or two exceptions - all exceptions were in the tools area. This is >in a six plus year period and I am not very shy in calling tech support!! > >I guess this is not a neutral community here, but I would be surprised if >you get any reply or input from any reasonably competent technical person >who worked with Informix telling you to go Oracle...!!! > >Good luck. > >Hal > >Chris Moehring wrote in message <37B4244D.F7F9BDB4@txucom.com>... >>I am considering purchasing Informix's IDS rather than Oracle's 8. >> >>I have heard that >>1) Informix was faster than Oracle but much harder to maintain. >>2) Harder to get support for Informix. People don't want to mess with >>it. >>3) Stored procedures have to be done one line at a time with >>Informix....very >>time consuming. >> >>I am please with the speed but the last thing that we need right now is >>server/software taking up our time to maintain. >> >>Can anyone address the validity of these statements? >> >>Thanks, >>Chris >> > >