Database Article in this weeks Issue [954]

cocorico — Thu, 24 May 2007 14:44:12 GMT

Arrrgh! - relieving tension!

I was really happy when I saw the heading 'Which Database is Best for You' as a cover story - because databases are big business, and I was looking forward to reading something that was plain truth and not vendor hype, or talked up views from individuals resigned to a particular 'camp'.

First, and this is minor, I went into page 4 and 5, expecting to find the article quickly under 'COVER STORY' - why would that be? because the article is mentioned on the COVER of course.

I eventually, in the small print in the blue margin, found an article called 'Group Test Databases' which I can only assume is the same thing.

Now first of all, let me say, that I hate Access, not for what it is, because what it is, it is quite good at actually, but for what it is not, or more specifically, when a business grows, and the DB needs of businesses exceed what Access can offer, individuals try to shoe horn Access into coping with what its not designed for, because they are too lazy to reskill themselves to. There is no rational reason why Access shouldn't be fully scalable, except MS don't want it competing with its flagship MS Sql Server in the big league, and medium size businesses, that once were quite small, would prefer to give their [already overstressed and inadequately resourced] IT team, the task of integrating front end Access use with something else [which never really works perfectly] rather than retrain and upskill their 125 approx administrative staff [ that once was a small team of around 8].

And beyond people that think they can shoe horn Excel into doing things they really should be using Access to do, there is only one other thing DB related that I hate more than Access, and that is programs that are made by somebody else, and try to be Access, but aren't quite as good.

Now you can see why I am let down by this week's article!

The fact is that Oracle, IBM Informix, My SQL, MS Sql server, IBM DB2, Teradata and Sybase together, have about 94% of DB market. Around 80% of the market is due to two products, Oracle's 10g and IBM's Informix alone. Last reliable figures to 2005. There is evidence that since then My SQL might have picked up share equal to about 25% of market, but this is difficult to translate into market share measured in cold hard cash, since components of it are opensource, so revenue does not necessarily mean usage.

But the bottom line that Access and its ilk, are a thin sliver of the DB pie, and by comparison, quite limited in purpose.

I wouldn't be HAPPY with Access represented in an article on DB's alongside the products above.. but I could live with it.

What I have a MAJOR problem with, is an article which purports to be an all encompasing article on DB's, but provides, only this tiny shadow representation of the fullness of what DB's can truly be...

Why? Because somebody in their infinite wisdom has decided this is all that MM readers will need, use or take interest in??

How presumptuous!!

I've had Oracle 9i running on a Sun Ultra 2 at home for about 3-4 years now. A lot has come with 10g which I'd like to make use of, but the migration is not something to be taken lightly!

Every week, without fail, there is an article on standard hardware components of desktops/stand alone PC's. Be it mobo's, graphics cards, hard drives, memory or whatever!

Now what if the 'overclocker efficionados' of the MM readership read 'CUTTING EDGE STONKING MOBOS REVIEWED' on the cover, only to find that all mobos reviewed are ones with onboard sound and graphics - you know the type!

This is what has been done to me by MM!, but luckily for my overclocker friends, their 'pet' topics are regularly re-visited. How long will it be to the next DB article?

In a web authoring tool context, this article is a bit like a test including Frontpage, and things that pretend to be frontpage but are not even as good, but somebody forgot to include products by Macromedia. You get the picture - whole different league!

By the way, If you really want to evaluate Oracle 10g as an article, I've got a copy of it - all 14 cd's [ Database, Application Server, Grid Control Agent, Cluster Ready Services, and Companion CD] and yes it's legal! But if you are interested - I'll want it back though!

As an olive branch, I have to say that this week I really liked the Crazy Talk 4, well done Joe Lavery, and who ever discovered the stuff [ if somebody else]

Thanks John

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Database Article in this weeks Issue [954]