Re: Academic pricing comparisons for popular SQL packages

In article <CE4wqz.7Is_at_murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> rvp2f_at_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

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Steven L. Wertheim, Ph.D.                      Internet: stevew_at_athena.mit.edu
P.O. Box 390915                               Voice-net: (617) 547-4730

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