Re: When It Couldn't Get Any Better

mark.scranton@gmail.com wrote: > On Feb 28, 11:28 am, DA Morgan <damor...@psoug.org> wrote: >>> Not that I'm flaming certain marketing folks within the IM pillar. They >>> have their hands tied and are trying to do things that they can't do >>> "through channels". >> Why does it never occur to this group that IBM is not a stupid company >> and is doing precisely what it decided to do when it acquired Informix. >> >> You may not like it that your personal playtoy is where it is. But IBM >> didn't acquire Informix because it saw a great strategic opportunity >> in having a second, competing, database product. >> >> In all of the years Informix has been an IBM product the behavior of >> IBM has been consistent. And consistency is a clear indication that >> they are perfectly pleased with where things are. >> -- >> Daniel A. Morgan >> University of Washington >> damor...@x.washington.edu (replace x with u to respond) > > Well said Daniel. I was there from the start - on the Informix team, > writing a Redbook to help people transition from IDS to DB2 (we told > them it wouldn't happen), and on the Worldwide team that did the IDS > 10 tour(s). I agree about the consistency from IBM, whether we like it > or not. I personally know that the initial plan was to move all IDS > customers to DB2. That became clear over time that it wasn't going to > happen, so everything started to change. Slowly, but it did. One of > our poster-people (all pun intended) said that "Janet couldn't utter > IDS"...well - I stood in Tokyo on the same stage with Janet - and all > I talked about was IDS. So did Janet. At that point, it wasn't clear > to all that IDS was here to stay, but tide was starting to turn > already. IBM HAS adopted IDS as the OLTP engine - that has been made > clear. This is a HUGE victory considering one of my first goals handed > down by mgmt was to "help the IDS customers understand the value of > transititioning to DB2." Of course, I didn't do that at all. All I > said in the 18 cities tour I did right after the acquisition was > "learn as much as you can about DB2, and then you can make an educated > decision." Wasn't exactly what was wanted, but as always it was > honest, technically pure, and gave the customers credit and respect > for what they have learned (and loved) about the IDS architecture over > the years. > > Mark Scranton > Xtivia Inc. Thanks. This isn't about technology this is about dollars. And IBM will never, as it views the marketplace, make as much money from Informix as DB2. So guess which is going to be the dog and which the tail. Your courage in being intellectually honest is appreciated. I wish there were more like you. -- Daniel A. Morgan University of Washington damorgan@x.washington.edu (replace x with u to respond)