Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!att!cbnewsm!dab
From: dab@cbnewsm.att.com (david.a.berk)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: **** Informix Absurd Pricing Policies ****
Keywords: rip-off, shooting themselves in the foot
Message-ID: <1990Jul13.224218.25945@cbnewsm.att.com>
Date: 13 Jul 90 22:42:18 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 68


     I originally purchased INFORMIX-SQL, INFORMIX-ESQL/C about 5 years
ago for an AT&T 7300.  I paid maintenance over 2.5 years on the 7300 for
both of those products.  When the 7300 was discontinued out of the graciousness
of their hearts I was allowed to upgrade to a AT&T 6386 16MHZ.  (Of course,
I had to pay the going difference between the price of the product on both
platforms new.)

     Today, I am contemplating selling my 6386 and putting together
a new machine (a 25 MHZ / 32 K cache  386 motherboard).  Now I know that my
AT&T UNIX will run on this platform as will all of my other applications,
INFORMIX included.   I happened to speak with an INFORMIX sales rep today
who tells me that in order for me to be legal according to my licensing
agreement, I would have to upgrade from the 16/20 MHZ class to the 
25/33 MHZ class.  But guess what ?  According to the sales rep, products
purchased over 3 years ago have no value and to remain legal I would have
to purchase a brand new ISQL, SQL and SE for $4385.00!!!!!!!!!  

What the @#$@%& have I been paying for their valueless maintenance/upgrade
fee for all of these years for (I could write another 5 screens about the
quality of informix tech support, but I'll save it for another article).  
Since when does software depreciate. 

    Let's face it, these days as technology improves people are not going
to be discarding entire machines but swapping out motherboards.  And we 
all know that if I kept my mouth shut and just continued using the 16MHZ
version it would work just fine on a 25 MHZ machine. Why ? Because the
16/25 MHZ version are the same identical executables. Are there really
executive/management at informix that think their kidding somebody. 

Hey informix, why are you constantly pissing people off with these self 
defeating policies? 

Why not handle this product like you are handling all the other 4.0 products
with 16 user limit and unlimited users versions ?

Why not make people think that when they purchase a product of informix
that they are getting a quality product/investment that is not going
to devaluate over time (provided, of course they keep the maintenance, which
would be a reasonable price)  and upgrade with them as technology moves
forward ???!!!???

Why is it that with INFORMIX I constantly feel they are trying to squeeze
every last penny out of the consumer!  (e.g. Making separate products instead
of just one integrated application development system).

I used to have maintenance on INFORMIX/4GL that I owned but I dropped it 
when the Rapid Development/Interactive Debugger was announced.  I cannot
afford to buy/maintain 14 different products for my applications.  These
days I just use ISQL/ESQLC and write my menu/forms using a product called
Vermont Views.  No Royalties, FREE Support and and excellent product (shrowded
source code included and I can compile my application royalty free on any
UNIX platform.  For other platforms I need just purchase the product).

Let's face it the screen/forms in I4GL are very limited and to this day you
still cannot have a vertical menu !!!!  

I wonder how soon before I start looking for a different database ...


David Berk
(201) 564-3294


****** Disclaimer ******

The opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the opinion of my
employer.