Re: Academic pricing comparisons for popular SQL packages

In article <CE4wqz.7Is@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> rvp2f@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Ramakrishna Polamraju) writes: >We are looking to buy an SQL package for teaching database classes. We >will probably buy the cheapest (initial cost and recurring costs) among the >popular packages (ORACLE, INFORMIX, SYBASE, INGRES, any other?) >for IBM RS6000/370 AIX system. There will be at most 10 simultaneous users. >Any price comparisons (academic pricing) and experiences from other academic >departments will be appreciated. Thanks a lot. > Oracle offers its products to educational institutions at an 85% discount for a one year license including maintenance. The other way to look at it is you get Oracle for free and you pay the maintenance contract which is 15% of the list price. The following year you pay again. I think this is a great deal, although you do have to generate lots of P.O.s Oracle is a solid product with good support although they sometimes seem stretched a little thin. Since they support just about every platform going, the update/fix you need for your box is sometimes a little slow in coming. Their people are knowledgable and helpful. Call Oracle and ask for David Podwojski in Public Sector Sales. Steve '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Steven L. Wertheim, Ph.D. Internet: stevew@athena.mit.edu P.O. Box 390915 Voice-net: (617) 547-4730 Cambridge, MA 02139 ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''