Re: An Oracle question

Nikita <Nikita@yahoo.com> wrote: >Carlos Benjamin wrote: >> Nikita <Nikita@yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> Hmmm. I come from Kansas, and one guy with a combine can do the work of hundreds with scythes. I'm not saying that Oracle doesn't have the lion's share of the market, but your guesstimate proves nothing. I'm not a DBA, but those I've talked with who have worked with both prefer Informix because it is less labor intensive (see combine vs. scythe above). > >See other post....scalability, customizability, enterprise level, etc. In terms of DBA's, maybe I just don't know enough Informix DBA's >but the Oracle ones I know and work with enjoy it and prefer it. So, guess it's just a matter of who you know. You left out 'complexity' (which isn't necessarily an asset). The problem with many of your statements is that they imply that the same does not hold true for Informix. In terms of scalability and customization Informix performs in spades. When we get into enterprise level application I think another factor comes into play. Many companies go to outside consulting firms when making ERP decisions and the fact is that most of those consulting firms have strategic partnership arrangements with Oracle which boils back down to marketing. Oracle is a good product, but the only aspect in which it seems to be superior is in the way it is marketed. Basing your statement on the limited universe of Oracle DBA's who haven't worked with Informix is probably what sets our teeth on edge. I have not run into very many Oracle DBA's who have also worked with Informix. I have talked with a number of Informix/Oracle DBA's and Informix DBA's who have worked with Oracle in the past and nearly every one of them prefers Informix. Not only do they state a preference, but they can list performance and usability issues to support their choice. I tend to discount the opinions of those who state their preference but can't articulate what makes one product better than another. By the way. I seem to remember another Nikita who was of the opinion that his preferred system would 'bury' the competition...... carlos Currently on hiatus from unemployment. ---------------------- Do you do Linux? :) Get your FREE @linuxstart.com email address at: http://www.linuxstart.com

And complexity isn't necessarily a vice either. So, I take it you have worked extensively with Oracle, and went back to Informix because Oracle was "too hard"? Well, Unix is complex, NT not -- which is a better product for large scale environments? (I know the answer). Oracle is more complex than SQL Server, and again the same question applies. I don't see complexity as a vice -- most often it requires/allows much more fine tuning, knowlege of what's actually going on with the product, more flexibilty etc. etc. etc. I am not a big fan of "well just give me a button to push or an icon to click so I don't have to know what's happening and I don't have to know what I am doing" mentality. In terms of Informix scalibilty, maybe they have come a ways in that arena, but they haven't been know in the past to be a highly scalable database. You are right in terms of Oracle's Marketing, it is superior (altho one could then ask why they are still kicking Microsoft in the butt). I will admit that Informix is still recovering from the suit, troubles delivering products etc. I am not a big fan of Mr. Larry, but he could care less about that, I honestly believe that his products at least walk the talk and so I have to respect that. Like I have said before, the meek do not survive in this industry, and I don't have a stake in Oracle that makes me hope they continue in their lead of the database market....heck I would hope that people here could admit that they are at least happy that the Microsoft machine (with it crappy, simple, point and click "database") hasn't managed to take Oracle over, and we're all forced to adminster SQL Server. In terms of what I have based my statements upon, it's what I see out there and what recruiters are saying. I have never run into an ex-Oracle DBA saying they bailed because they thought Informix was better. However, you may be right in that my experiences are limited. In terms of stating a preference without articulating what makes one product better over another....well, there are so many of those threads that have started and I really didn't want to go there -- most of the database products (well, except for SQL Server) are decent, it all boils down to needs, application and expertise. I wouldn't, however call an answer to a question about an Oracle feature of "switch to Informix" a truely articulative answer tho, which is why this silly thread even started. Well, better get to work. Thanks for your viewpoints. Carlos Benjamin wrote: > Nikita <Nikita@yahoo.com> wrote: > >Carlos Benjamin wrote: > >> Nikita <Nikita@yahoo.com> wrote: > >> > >> Hmmm. I come from Kansas, and one guy with a combine can do the work of hundreds with scythes. I'm not saying that Oracle doesn't have the lion's share of the market, but your guesstimate proves nothing. I'm not a DBA, but those I've talked with who have worked with both prefer Informix because it is less labor intensive (see combine vs. scythe above). > > > >See other post....scalability, customizability, enterprise level, etc. In terms of DBA's, maybe I just don't know enough Informix DBA's > >but the Oracle ones I know and work with enjoy it and prefer it. So, guess it's just a matter of who you know. > > You left out 'complexity' (which isn't necessarily an asset). The problem with many of your statements is that they imply that the same does not hold true for Informix. In terms of scalability and customization Informix performs in spades. When we get into enterprise level application I think another factor comes into play. Many companies go to outside consulting firms when making ERP decisions and the fact is that most of those consulting firms have strategic partnership arrangements with Oracle which boils back down to marketing. Oracle is a good product, but the only aspect in which it seems to be superior is in the way it is marketed. > > Basing your statement on the limited universe of Oracle DBA's who haven't worked with Informix is probably what sets our teeth on edge. I have not run into very many Oracle DBA's who have also worked with Informix. I have talked with a number of Informix/Oracle DBA's and Informix DBA's who have worked with Oracle in the past and nearly every one of them prefers Informix. Not only do they state a preference, but they can list performance and usability issues to support their choice. I tend to discount the opinions of those who state their preference but can't articulate what makes one product better than another. > > By the way. I seem to remember another Nikita who was of the opinion that his preferred system would 'bury' the competition...... > > carlos > > Currently on hiatus from unemployment. > ---------------------- > Do you do Linux? :) > Get your FREE @linuxstart.com email address at: http://www.linuxstart.com