Re: Sybase or Oracle? (No flame wars please)

Ken Mcdonald wrote:
>
> OK, I realize that this is going to be a provocative subject, but
> I really would appreciate advice. Our group has to decide on a
> database soon, and we don't know whether to go with Sybase or
> Oracle. Clearly Oracle has the lead in the marketplace--but is
> it a better product?
>
> Of course, each product will have its strengths and weaknesses, so
> I realize I'm asking a pretty loaded question. Other things being
> equal (and I assume that performance and the like for the two
> databases are reasonably similar), what is probably most important
> for us is the ability to write clean code. Things such as having
> a database spread across different sites, or having a huge number
> of users, are not particularly important.
>
> So, if you know enough about certain features of Sybase vs. Oracle
> to comment on them, and feel strongly that one is better than the
> other in some way, please drop me a line. Thanks for the advice!
>
> Thanks,
> Ken McDonald
> email: kmcdona_at_watson.wustl.edu
> --
> ========================================
> Kenneth McDonald
> Genome Sequencing Center
> Washington University School of Medicine
>
> Phone: 314-286-1831
> ========================================What about Informix? I have no particular axe to grind for any rdbms, and would always
select the rdbms on factors other than raw speed (after all, most benchmarks only test the skill of the benchmark team, not the speed of the product). Things you should consider are:
  Does the dbms vendor show any interest in me as a client other than as yet another source of licence revenue?   What kind of support am I going to get?   How easy/ difficult is the administration of the product?   What kind of skills do I have and what can I hire? How much are those skills in the market place?   What are the long term directions for the product? Also, is the hardware a given? This may also affect your choice. I have had to prepare many proposals for customers which included recommending hardware and rdbms. I always try to point them at these kind of questions and not just the speeds and feeds. Hope this is of some help.
  Regards...Richard

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   Name:   Richard Fisher    | Specialist MSE
   E-mail Address            | Richard_Fisher_at_amdahl.com
   Date:   _at_date@          | Any opinions expressed 
   Time:   _at_time@          | above are mine and do not
 necessarily represent the  opinions or policies  of Amdahl Corporation
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