Re: Advice for an Oracle Jock

I have worked with both DBMS'. Granted it was Oracle 6.x, but I've been there. I find that there are several reasons to prefer Informix to Oracle. - Easier install - More easily managed DBMS environment - Better customer service - Informix let's you switch databases without bouncing the server ( Did Oracel fix this in 7.x???? ) - Price - Attitude of the sales reps and the company in general I found the change to Informix to be painless. Almost all the knowledge you have gained with Oracle will transfer to the Informix environment. The software specific stuff will need to be learned, but what else would you expect? I also recommend that you go for it based on diversifying your skill base. That way you can switch between the two and open up the bidding for your time / talents. Both companies will be around for a while. The only problem I saw was moving the Oracle*Forms 2.x stuff into Informix 4GL. That took an Informix consultant ( I did not have the time or experience to get it converted within the schedule ). Oracle has a bit of a technology edge right now. If the specific problems you will be asked to address fall in that area AND you must solve it quickly, then choose Oracle. But, you will pay and pay and pay through the nose for the convenience. This edge is in the distributed database area. I believe that Informix has not solved ( or released at any rate ) a multiple machine fully distributed DBMS. I think Oracle offers that. Perhaps the Informix monitor can comment on that. In short: Go for it!!! I think you will be glad you did. -Later Kevin +------------------------------+-------------------------+----------------+ | Kevin McHugh - SW Engineer | mkmchu@fax.cs.mci.com | | MCI Telecommunications Corp. | (719) 535-5278 | +------------------------------+-------------------------+----------------+ | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. | | This posting is copyright and may be used only for the purposes | | of professional study. Use of this posting in any commercial | | environment is explicitly prohibited. This posting may only be | | reproduced for personal archival purposes. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+