Re: Moving from Informix

I attended the Informix InfoBahn yesterday in Minneapolis. It sounds like IBM is definitely going to keep Informix around, they have plans to maintain Informix products, and have plans at least through 2005. Jerry Kursee was the main speaker, director over 200 Informix programmers. The main statement I heard was that IBM would continue to work with and support Informix AS LONG AS CUSTOMERS want the product. IBM has made many improvements to Informix software (i.e. bringing 9.4 to market which is a wonderful product with much additional functionality), and it has already been about two years since the acquisition. There are some areas where DB2 and Informix are in cross-over (i.e. some data management tools are labeled db2xxx, but now usable with Informix as well.) IF what they were saying is true, then as long as we want Informix, we get to keep it. And I think it will be made better over time. If we all panic, and all move to DB2 or other , then how much will it cost your organization? In that case, IBM will stop supporting it if there is no need for it. C Geier System Admin/IS support St. Paul, MN How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. For its profit is better than the profit of silver, And its gain than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace. (The Holy Bible, Proverbs 3:13-17) Daniel Morgan <damorgan@exxesolutions.com> Sent by: owner-informix-list@iiug.org 05/16/2003 10:38 AM Please respond to Daniel Morgan <damorgan@exxesolutions.com> To informix-list@iiug.org cc Subject Re: Moving from Informix Andy Lennard wrote: > In message <ba231u$r4g$1@terabinaries.xmission.com>, Peta Cowan > <peta.cowan@prophecy-open.com.au> writes > > > >This is a multi-part message in MIME format. > > > >------=_NextPart_000_0074_01C31BC6.D17D9A10 > >Content-Type: text/plain; > > charset="us-ascii" > >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > > >Since the acquisition of Informix by IBM there has been much talk about > >the future of Informix and how long IBM will continue to support it. I > >don t know the answer to that question, but I am predicting that > >eventually many Informix users will consider moving to another database > >DB2, Oracle, etc for whatever reason. > > > > Your original post seemed to comprise 2 distinct parts. I'm Java-naive, > so I'll not attempt the technical part. I'll also assume the other part > of your query isn't a troll, and answer as best I can. > > Also, I originally responded to what I thought was a single post to > euro-ug@iiug.org. I wish you hadn't individually cross-posted to all the > iug.org lists, and here too. Another suggestion that I'm sure others > will make is 'don't post MIME'. > > I was present at a presentation yesterday by Gary Proctor of > IBM/Informix. > > He stressed that very active development of IDS was continuing, and if > anything it was proceeding faster as a result of the acquisition. > > He said that there was evidence of code exchange between the IDS and DB2 > engines and that this was made easier and more productive because the > engineers were part of the same team. > > He presented an IDS (et al) development road-map, and said that recent > targets had been met to schedule. > > He stated that large application vendors who had been reluctant to > certify onto Informix since the acquisition were now seeking to do so as > the user-base were so committed to remaining with the Informix engine. > > He re-stated that support for Informix would continue for as long as > people wanted it. > > I'm sure that even the most fervent Informix supporter considers whether > the choice of engine is correct for their business. That is part of the > job, and applies to all aspects of the technology we employ to enable > our business to succeed. > > The message from Informix, and the one that has been repeated > consistently since acquisition, is that you don't need to change > database engines for the reason that IBM is withdrawing support. > > -- > Andrew Lennard andy@kontron.demon.co.uk All of which sounds good and is what Informix developers want to hear. At the same time it is ridiculous to think that IBM would support two essentially identical products to perform the exact same task and sold to the exact same market. Imagine the discussion with the prospective customer. IBM: We have two products that would work for you. Both use the same code base, perform the same tasks, have the same pricing, and run on all of the same hardware. Client: Which one should I buy. IBM: Doesn't matter. Take the one you find most attractive. Client: Then I'll take Oracle because my daughter's favorite color is red. Until I hear something that indicates a clear path to distinguish the products I have to assume one will go away. -- Daniel Morgan http://www.outreach.washington.edu/extinfo/certprog/oad/oad_crs.asp damorgan@x.washington.edu (replace 'x' with a 'u' to reply)