Re: Differences between Oracle RDBMS and MS SQL Server

In article <90mmg3$8h8$1_at_nnrp1.deja.com>,   Mike Krolewski <mkrolewski_at_rosetta.org> wrote:
> In article <90mf5e$22r$1_at_nnrp1.deja.com>,
> lindawie_at_my-deja.com wrote:
> >
> >
> > Slick technical features are nice, but in the end they will not sway
 an
> > informed management. Executives will base their purchase decisions
 on
> > things like how much of the budget will this consume, how can they
> > justify paying developers and DBAs twice as much as nontechnical
> > people, or is it more cost-effective to just go to an application
> > service provider.
> >
> > Linda
> >
> > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> > Before you buy.
> >
>
> Are you suggesting that it is cost is the only factor? Why not stick
 to
> paper and pencil? Are you suggesting that developers and DBAs are not
> productive and should be replaced by a 3rd party group ( of developers
> and DBAs )?
>
> I have worked for companies that took Johnny who wanted to write code
> to develop the corporate database. And when it was small and did
> something your PDA did, things worked well. And the (pick you favorite
> RDBMS here) was cheap. Then the project was scaled up and features
 were
> added, and things stopped working. Not necessarily due to (pick you
> favorite RDBMS here) but to Johnny's design or lack of it. It took
> months to undo the damage.
>
> IMHO one of Oracles major advantages is the developer/DBAs have to
 have
> some skill before they are hired. It slows down the "you start
> developing it while I get the specifications from the user" mode of
> development.
>
> Similarly, it is hard to justify changing to or adding
 Oracle/SqlServer
> if all that you think you are doing is moving the old system to
> Oracle/SqlServer. The big cost is trying to figure out what it is that
> you are trying to do.
>
> Also, I think the total cost of goods is a bit misleading. A car is
> much more expensive than walking especially with purchase, insurance,
> repairs, gas etc. However, do you want to incur the cost of walking?
> Your assertion that all these people and machines are expensive may
> mean that you have not reached the level of need that requires them.
> When you are using a couple of TBytes of data and running 24/7 and
 your
> still behind in getting things done, maybe the cost is less
 significant?
>
> Good skilled people are expensive but productive. The real cost of
 high
> salaries is getting someone who is not skilled or as skilled as you
 are
> paying for. A rule of thumb is software development, a good programmer
> is 20X more productive than an average programmer. I have not seen a
> good programmer paid 20X her average programmer's salary.
>

Back on the cost of development.

One can start Oracle development at no cost by downloading personal Oracle. You basically need a reasonable PC and NT, and you are off.

I am aware that one is does not need both developers and DBA. I have served both functions, especially on small projects. Oracle on the NT is also reasonably priced -- at least last I heard.

Scaling up from there is the workstation/small server. A Solaris system with 100GB is about $10,000. I am not sure on the Oracle cost.

As far as tools goes, I generally believe one should get the best tools available. SQL Server is really good about adding in functionality as the base product. Oracle has decided to unbundle the tools. Buy this one and that one. Like drugs, you buy what you need. I am aware of several 3rd party tools around $2500 that do a great job of supplimenting Oracle and Sql Server functionality.

Consider the cost of tools. At contractor prices ($100/hr), most tools are just a weeks cost. If they double your productivity, they easily pay for themselves.

> --
> Michael Krolewski
> Rosetta Inpharmatics
> mkrolewski_at_rosetta.org
> Ususual disclaimers
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.
>

--
Michael Krolewski
Rosetta Inpharmatics
mkrolewski_at_rosetta.org
              Ususual disclaimers


Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.