Re: Informix vs. Oracle: The Support chapter

Well, I guess everyone has their own set of experiences. Just 2 years ago I was still able to get ok support for an Online version 4 engine. At that time version 7 was already hitting the streets. We did upgrade to 7 but that was because we were changing platforms and upgrading made sense. It is a little tougher when you have a really old product but you're going to find that with most companies since it's only natural to have people strongest with the newer products because that is waht the company is betting its future on. There are different kinds of support contracts. Yes, there may be one that only allows upgrades. But I haven't seen a product that didn't offer some sort of technical phone support. -Bill } } Hi! } } I'm from Bulgaria. The Informix version of our product is OnLine 5.0.2. } When we purchased Informix product we purchased Informix support contract } too. But when it finnished and we asked for another contract we was } surprised when we saw it. They sent us a contract which is saying that we } will receive new versions of our Informix product for free. There was no } any point about any kind of support. So we didn't sign the contract again. } } Two weeks ago, however, when I had a meeting with the company, which } is called itself INFORMIX Autorized Technology Center, they show } me the two most expensive contracts. One - the old one. The second } one they said me is a new tipe of contract - the most expensive. } It include in itself the older contract plus developers support. } For examle, ***maybe*** we'll have a chance that they'll answer us } if we ask them any questions about Informix bugs. No immediate onsite } support at all, which is just what we need. } } And there is a point in this contract which is highly unacetable for us: } "INFORMIX doesn't support any product for which the new version is } existing. Maximum period for upgrade is six months." } They said us that INFORMIX doesn't support version 5 at all, while they } do it, but from next year - maybe NO MORE. } } So, if we want to use the adventages of the contract we must install the } last version of our Informix product and pay defaults for the time we } didn't sign the contract. } } We don't want to buy a new versions of Informix products, because we } are developing a big project. And we have no time to study the bugs of } the new versions. And the situation will be such, untill there will be no } guarantee that when Informix server shutdown there will be somebody who } will be able to help us and explain us what happened. } } I will be thankfull to anybody who will be able to send me a copy of } the main points in the Informix support contract. And does Inoformix } oblige its representatives (in a little countries like our) anything? } What are the Informix prices (per cents of the products' cost) usually? } } :( } Milen. } } P.S. Sorry for my english. } } ====================================================== } Database: Informix OnLine 5.0.2.UC6 } OS : SCO OpenServer Enterprise System Release 3.0 } E-mail : dbadmin@svilosa.bis.bg } ====================================================== } } On Mon, 25 Aug 1997, Nils van der Laan wrote: } } > Since I posted the question about the differences between Informix and } > Oracle, a lot of answers and opinions have reached my inbox. Thank you } > for your input, and as I can see, the discussion still isn't over. } > } > Next to the product a company makes, the support is also very inportant. } > Adding to my question about Informix and Oracle, I would like to ask } > about experiences with the support they received from either Informix or } > Oracle. Is there a winner here (or a definate loser)? } > } > } } > }Nils van der Laan } > }email: nilsl@simac.nl } > } } > }Simac ERP Solutions bv } > }Pastoriestraat 157 } > }5612 EK Eindhoven } > }Tel: 040-2968625 } > }Fax: 040-2968699 } > } } > } } -- Bill Ennis Voice: 312-474-7516 SSA Fax: 312-474-7460 500 W. Madison email: ennis@ssax.com ennis@accesschicago.net