Re: IDS Next Version - features wanted.

On Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:14:45 -0400, Data Goob <datagoob@netscape.net> wrote: >John Carlson wrote: >> On Tue, 31 May 2005 13:51:11 -0500, <mosserp@wellsfargo.com> wrote: >> >> >>>>-----Original Message----- >>>>From: owner-informix-list@iiug.org >>>>[mailto:owner-informix-list@iiug.org] On Behalf Of Data Goob >>>>Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 4:40 AM >>>>To: informix-list@iiug.org >>>>Subject: Re: IDS Next Version - features wanted. >>>> >>>>david@smooth1.co.uk wrote: >>>> >>>>>What features do you want for the next version of IDS? >>>>> >>>>>The Key Features in IDS Version 10.00 by Jerry Keesee >>>>> >>>>>mentions... >>>>> >>>>>- Smooth Upgrade of HDR >>>>>- Online table re-org >>>>>- Dynamic Reconfiguration >>>>>- Auto Update Stats >>>>>- Auto Disk Mgmt >>>>>- RAS >>>>>- Autonomics >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>a) What does Smooth Upgrade of HDR mean? >>>>> >>>>>b) What else do people want as features? >>>>> >>>>>David. >>>>> >>>> >>>>I haven't used Informix in at least 5 years so really what I need to >>>>see is some money spent on marketing. The message needs to be crisp, >>>>and to the point, not pointed at executive management, but >>> >>><< snip >> >>> >>>I disagree -- from my own experience, I think that IBM needs to get out >>>the Informix message even *MORE* to executive mgmt than they have in the >>>past. Maybe some adverts in BusinessWeek (US), for example. >>> >>>Paul Mosser >>> >> >> >> Seconded . . . . it seems that the techies already understand. >> Unfortunately, it's not the techies who hold the purse strings or go >> golfing . . . .8-) >> >> JWC > > >What "techies" understand? Those here in c.d.i? Wooo-hooo! Why not? We're still using the product. > >Take a look at the competition ( MySQL for example, MS-SQL-Server ) >and take a lesson from what really works. Most of the "executives" >and purse strings you talk about are people who grew up on Windows >based systems, thinking that UNIX is dead, and now wondering how >to get into Linux. They get their MBAs, drooling with their >Windows-based systems, and video games, and now they want to >conquer the world. But they take their cues from developers >just as it has always been the way to do things. Linux and the >new world is what they want, but they defer to technical people >to make the final cut. If all they hear is DB2, or MS-SQL-Server, >or anything-but-your-favorite-db, then that's what they will BUY. > I'm not sure what size company you work in, but in most companies, I've seen where the technical specs are already laid out BEFORE the techies implement. Management has already decided which product to use based on the strategic viability of the product . . . well, that's one way . . . >Informix went out of business because of ignoring developers and >techies, remember???? Or were you too busy, and hiding when that >happened? Did you forget already? No, my memory is pretty good. They went out of business because they're idea of marketing was to put their logo on a race car in Europe. > Executives were the ones >preached to the last time around and where are things? In the >shitter. Wake up and get with the program. If you don't have >a ground-swell of developer momentum you don't have shit. It >was all wasted the last time around by a bunch of khaki-pants- >shit-for-brains marketing jackasses who didn't have a clue about >the technology or how to sell it. They didn't listen. And now >you pass off your wisdom in a box. Think outside your Informix >box. The world is passing you by, and doesn't give a hoot >about Informix until and when it says to the world that it IS >important, that it IS the best. This message has to be said, >or nobody will ever hear it. Get it? And you can't shout it >in a newsgroup, or a blog, you have to shout it in advertising >and more than one ad, and really say the words that are not >wimpy and vague. Until that happens, all the nice new features >are just great technology rotting on the vine. Great stuff >that nobody cares about, and nobody is going to use. Forgotten. Getting personal, are we? I agree that marketing has been a major issue with Informix products. What we have here is a failure to communicate (unless there really is a conspiracy) . . . . * IBM markets (?) Informix, gets behind IDS 10, sets up Infobahns to get the word out, etc. * Third party apps drop Informix support and I HEAR NOTHING FROM IBM. * Execs / managements hear from their techies about how great Informix is, how relatively simple it is to administer, etc. but they get word from vendors that said vendors ARE DROPPING SUPPORT FOR INFORMIX PRODUCTS. Well, Goob, maybe your perception is different. I think that my observations are not that far off . . . in fact, it reminds me of a conversation with Tim Schaffer (sp) quite a bit ago . . . . JWC All my ideas . . . all the time