Re: IBM DB2 serious alternative to Oracle/Informix?

John Brock wrote: > I've seen DB2 criticized for having a steep learning curve, but I've > never seen anyone criticize it's color scheme! Do you really think the > original poster was interested in that? In any case, there is a new > version coming out, called DB2 Universal Database, which will add a lot > of graphical tools to supplement (replace?) the current CLI interface, > so maybe IBM has been addressing this critical problem. > On balance, yes my original post was a bit excited, but not intended to be hostile. I'm just not a very good writer. But if I can attempt to clarify here, I would add that an interface is indeed important, and the DB2 interface just left me cold blue. From a utilitarian standpoint, the engine may kick ass, but I would hate to have to wade through the interface trying to figure it out. Maybe the newer DB2 Universal will have a better GUI. > If IBM -- which controls the mainframe DB market but doesn't have much > of a foothold in the client/server world -- were really interested in > swaying non-DB2 people to DB2, their best bet might be to try to buy > market share, by selling what is generally acknowledged as a world > class database engine at fire sale prices. Hey! According to the > original poster, that's exactly what they're doing! If DB2 on Unix and > NT really does have a 10 to 1 price advantage over Oracle and Informix > (can that possibly be right???) it strikes me as a *much* stronger > incentive than a well coordinated color scheme. > -- > John Brock > jbrock@panix.com FWIW, I agree with building market share by using low prices. Obviously this alone will not drive the market. Consider how well some OS products are doing with this scheme. If a product is good, a low price makes it a steal. If it ain't, it don't matter. :-) DB2 on NT needs more tools as well as a better GUI--at least for me, as I'm not a DB2 person. This is all relative and just my 2 cents. The performance on NT may also be a complete misnomer comparing it to UNIX, or even MVS. Each and every product and platform must be evaluated on its' own terms, not TCP benchmarks or advertising hype, and I include all vendors in this. As I said before, DB2 will be exciting for DB2 people, but I can tell you there are plenty of other non-DB2 people out there that will not be impressed. I get the feeling also that IBM is playing catch-up in an already crowded NT market. With malice toward none, Tim -- Tim Schaefer \\\\|// tschaefe@mindspring.com (6 6) ------------------------oOOo---( )---o00o--------- http://www.inxutil.com