Re: IIUG - New engine survey, your input needed

Nils.Myklebust@nmdata.com (Nils Myklebust) offerred: +On Wed, 17 Jun 1998 22:12:44 -0400 (EDT), Seth Grimes +> -- and there's +>the message sent by making only 7.30 available free to developers +>that 9.1x still isn't good enough or important enough. + +This message is however received strong an clear by me, and I would +believe from many others in the market as well. This is the part that +Informix must realy fix and fix fast. They wouldn't necessarily have +to give away 9.1x on their NT development offer right now if they +think it's too complex in some way, but they should have made it much +more clear what it would take to get 9.1x. As it is now you actually +have to be interested enough to ask a salesperson. They don't seem to +understand what kind of barrier that is as opposed to having that +information clearly stated on their web site. After thinking about this, I've realized that Informix was probably better off doing the giveaway with 7.3 at this point because that is the release that puts NT and Unix on the same schedule, and with pretty much the same functionality. For example, with 9.1x, you can only have one server running on your NT box; 7.3 supports multiple residency. Also 7.3 includes the "new" (and hopefully final) iteration of IECC, which is quite different than what you get with 9.1x. To have people learn and get used to one interface, only to have to switch to the new one (which I've finally decided is, in fact, better - but it was annoying at first having been used to the previous interface) would probably generate a bit of annoyance among your users. 7.3 also includes features that makes porting Oracle apps to Informix somewhat simpler. Since 9.1x lacks these features, there would be less incentive for folks to port their apps written for Oracle to Informix, even if the server is free. If they are smart, Informix will continue the NT giveaway after the end of 1998 for at least a few months, making 9.2 the giveaway version (and allowing those 7.3 users to upgrade for free as well). 9.2 should be a more useable release for NT than the current 9.12. Just 2 cents for the kitty.... Dave ** Dave Kosenk <davek@summitdata.com> ** Director of Training Services (732) 469-4070 ** Summit Data Group (an Informix Authorized Education Center) ** Find my advice useful? Let me teach you everything I know about ** Informix. Sign up for OFFICIAL Informix training at SDG. ** For details, see http://www.summitdata.com/training