Oracle8i, Microsoft

I'm very new to Oracle. In fact, my company has grown large enough that we are in the process of selecting a corporate database. Oracle vs. MS SQL server to be exact. So we're trying to decide.

We like the new beta3 of MS SQL Server 7. I think anyone that knows NT administration can use their cartoon manager. It integrates very well with NT. After only 3 hours of installing MSSQL Sever7 for the first time, I was reading/writing to a database with a thin-client from a Domino server. So I give Microsoft a big thumbs-up for ease of use.

Oracle is not very intuitive for a first time user (I'm comparing to MS here). It's mostly command-line based I guess. The startup cost will be greater I think. Administration looks harder too. Again, I'm a first time user and don't know any of the basics as yet.

The big push at my company is CORBA/IIOP and Java. Multi-tier architecture, business logic layer from an application server with Java, etc. MS has no interest in Java and is pushing their COM products.

I don't like the idea of trusting our corporate database to Microsoft. That really scares me. My colleges however are quick to point out that Microsoft will probably be around a little longer than Oracle. Oracle is probably the safer choice for data integrity. It's hard to find hard facts at Microsoft's web site. My company uses Lotus Notes extensively, so I know all about the Microsoft marketing machine (Exchange vs. Notes, MS arguments are laughable).

The new Oracle8i will allow stored procedures to be written in Java. Oracle also runs on a platform other than WindowsNT. These reasons favor Oracle compared with Microsoft.

I'm tiered of researching the features for these product. I wanted to voice my first impressions here in case anyone can provide advice about the two products. (no lengthy MS vs Oracle debates please).

Are there any Getting Started guides for Oracle8? Preferably written outside of Oracle Corp. When can we expect Oracle8i to be released? Is everyone looking forward to the 8i version?

Thank you,
Brian Received on Tue Sep 22 1998 - 22:37:20 CDT